BACKGROUND: De Quervain tenosynovitis is mainly managed by conservative treatments, such as anti-inflammatory drugs, splint, and injection; however, surgical treatments are also recommended. Objectives: The present study aimed at assessing the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in the treatment of de Quervain tenosynovitis. METHODS: The current clinical trial was conducted on 26 patients with de Quervain tenosynovitis eligible for treatment. The intervention group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy (1000 impulses, 2 bar, 15 Hz), and the sham group a treatment without shock wave. Both groups received the same conservative treatments as thumb spica splint and 200 mg celecoxib once daily for three weeks. The assessment instruments included the disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) questionnaire, the visual analog scale (VAS), and the hand-grip strength test performed before and after treatment. RESULTS: After treatment, the DASH and VAS scores decreased, while the hand-grip strength increased significantly in the groups. DASH and VAS scores were significantly lower in the intervention group than the sham group after treatment (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a safe and easy method to reduce pain and enhance upper extremity functions and hand-grip strength in patients with de Quervain tenosynovitis.

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