Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and electrotherapy in medial tibial stress syndrome: a randomised study
Aydan Orscelik1
, Gökhan Büyüklüoğlu1, Tuğba Kocahan1, Bihter Akınoğlu2, Hüseyin Günaydın1, Burak Karaaslan1
1Health Sciences University Gulhane Medical Faculty, Sports Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
2Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Ankara, Türkiye
Keywords: MTSS, ESWT, exercise, athlete
Abstract
Objective: Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) is a sports injury characterized by pain in the middle and lower parts of the tibia. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) combined with exercise, compared to electrotherapy combined with exercise, in track and field athletes with MTSS.
Materials and Methods: Track and field athletes diagnosed with MTSS were divided into two groups. The first group received ESWT, while the second group underwent electrotherapy. Both groups followed the same exercise program. Outcome measures, including the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), Tegner Activity Score, Disablement in the Physically Active Scale Short Form-10 (DPA-SF-10), Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), Tampa Kinesiophobia Scale, and obstacle course completion times, were recorded at baseline and after 4 weeks.
Results: Fifty-six participants were enrolled in the study, with a mean age of 23.2 ± 4.8 years (range: 18-40) and a mean BMI of 23.2 ± 2.9 (range: 19-35). Both treatment approaches resulted in statistically significant improvements in participants' symptoms. However, no significant differences were observed between the two groups when comparing outcomes before and after treatment.
Conclusion: ESWT and electrotherapy combined with exercise were found to be similarly effective in the treatment of MTSS.
Cite this article as: Orscelik A, Buyukluoglu G, Kocahan T, Akinoglu B, Gunaydin H, Karaaslan B. Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and electrotherapy in medial tibial stress syndrome: a randomised study. Turk J Sports Med. 2025 Feb 18th; https://doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0850
The approval for this study was obtained from local clinical research ethics committee of Gulhane Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye (Date: 05/07/2023, Number: 2023/160).
Consept- AO; Design - AO; Supervison –GB; Materials–AO,BA,TK Data Collection and/or Processing – HG,BK,TK,BA; Analysis and İnterpretation – GB; Literature Review – HG,BK; Writing manuscript – AO ; Critical Reviews – HG,BK.
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
All research done by the authors.
