Aim of the study: Has extracorporal shockwave therapy in chronic golfer's elbow comparable results as in tennis elbow?
Method: 30 patients for extracorporal shockwave therapy who suffered from chronic medial epicondylitis (group I) and 30 patients with persistent tennis elbow (group II) received 500 impulses of 0.08 mJ/mm2 three times at weekly intervals. The final follow-up examination was done after 24 weeks.
Results: Significant differences in relief of pain and improvement of function were observed in favour of group II. Good or excellent outcome was found in only 27% for the epicondylitis humeri ulnaris, but in 60% for epicondylitis humeri radialis.
Conclusion: The indication for extracorporeal shock-wave therapy in medial epicondylitis must be questioned.