Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41651897›Full record

SynthesisScientific reports2026

Efficacy of radial and focused shockwave therapy for tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Magdalena Stania, Michał Pawłowski, Monika Benduch, Artur Dudon, Zuzana Hirjaková, Diana Bzdúšková, Jana Kimijanová

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Scientific reports, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Magdalena StaniaInstitute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6535-6858
Michał PawłowskiInstitute of Sport Sciences, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1129-8741
Monika BenduchStudent Research Club "Impuls", Department of Theoretical and Practical Basics of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
Artur DudonStudent Research Club "Impuls", Department of Theoretical and Practical Basics of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
Zuzana HirjakováDepartment of Behavioural Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6061-407X
Diana BzdúškováDepartment of Behavioural Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9142-2924
Jana KimijanováDepartment of Behavioural Neuroscience, Institute of Normal and Pathological Physiology, Centre of Experimental Medicine, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, Slovakia. jana.kimijanova@savba.sk.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8430-5666

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tendinopathy is a common musculoskeletal condition that impairs body function and quality of life. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a widely used non-invasive treatment method. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the efficacy and safety of radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) and focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) in the treatment of upper and lower limb tendinopathies, based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing pain intensity, physical function, muscle strength, and adverse effects. The review protocol was registered in the PROSPERO database under the registration number CRD420251011209. A comprehensive search of PubMed, EBSCOhost, Ovid MEDLINE, and Embase was conducted to identify RCTs. Databases were searched from their inception until the last update-26 March 2025 for PubMed, EBSCOhost and Ovid MEDLINE, and 27 March 2025 for Embase. Review methods: Risk ratios and mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I

Indexed as

Extracorporeal Shockwave TherapyTendinopathyHigh-Energy Shock WavesHumansMuscle StrengthQuality of LifeRandomized Controlled Trials as TopicTreatment OutcomeExtracorporeal shockwave therapyPhysical therapy modalitiesTendonsTherapeutics

Identifiers

PMID41651897
PMCPMC12936064

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.