PURPOSE Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) has become a common practice for treating knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the effectiveness and safety of this treatment are still questionable. This meta-analysis is aimed at determining the degree of pain reduction and functional outcome after ESWT for knee OA. METHODS We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and other online databases. The articles comparing the outcomes between ESWT and controls were included in the analysis. RESULTS Nine studies with 705 patients were included. The pooled data revealed significantly lower pain scores in the ESWT groups than in the control groups within two weeks of treatment and six months after treatment (visual analogue scale, - 1.59, p = 0.0003, 95% confidence interval (CI) - 2.45 to - 0.72 at 2 weeks; - 1.12, p = 0.005, 95% CI - 1.89 to - 0.34 at 6 months). The ESWT group also had better functional outcomes four to six weeks post treatment (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, - 11.96, p = 0.003, 95% CI - 19.76 to - 4.15). No rebound pain was noted for up to 12 months. CONCLUSION Using ESWT to treat knee OA may reduce pain and improve functional outcomes. The effect may last six months to one year. More prospective studies are needed to investigate the settings for ESWT to optimize treatment results.

中文翻译：

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体外冲击波疗法治疗膝骨关节炎：一项荟萃分析。

目的体外冲击波治疗（ESWT）已成为治疗膝骨关节炎（OA）的常用方法。但是，这种治疗的有效性和安全性仍然值得怀疑。这项荟萃分析旨在确定ESWT后膝OA的疼痛减轻程度和功能结局。方法我们系统地搜索了MEDLINE，EMBASE和其他在线数据库。分析中包括比较ESWT和对照结果的文章。结果纳入了705例患者的9项研究。汇总的数据显示，在治疗两周内和治疗后六个月内，ESWT组的疼痛评分明显低于对照组（视觉模拟评分，-1.59，p = 0.0003，95％置信区间（CI）-2.45至- 2周时为0.72;-1.12，p = 0.005，95％CI-1.89至-0。在6个月时达到34）。ESWT组在治疗后四到六周也具有更好的功能结局（西安大略和麦克马斯特大学骨关节炎指数，-11.96，p = 0.003，95％CI-19.76至-4.15）。在长达12个月的时间内均未发现反弹痛。结论使用ESWT治疗膝骨关节炎可以减轻疼痛并改善功能预后。效果可能持续六个月至一年。需要更多的前瞻性研究来研究ESWT的设置，以优化治疗效果。效果可能持续六个月至一年。需要更多的前瞻性研究来研究ESWT的设置，以优化治疗效果。效果可能持续六个月至一年。需要更多的前瞻性研究来研究ESWT的设置，以优化治疗效果。