Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by unsuccessful repair of joint damage resulting from stresses in any of the synovial joint tissues. Symptoms include pain (initially only after movement), joint stiffness, limitation of joint movement, feeling of insecurity in the joint, and difficulty walking. The diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis can be easily made with a detailed history and a comprehensive physical examination. Radiographic examinations are used to support clinical findings and exclude other possible pathologies. The main purpose of treating knee osteoarthritis is to reduce pain and make daily life easier. Since there is no standard treatment method, the patient's treatment must be individualized by taking into account age, comorbidity, severity of the clinical picture, patient preferences and cost of treatment. Conservative treatment includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment, and the optimal treatment should be applied as a combination of these two methods. Patient education, lifestyle modification, exercise, different physical therapy modalities (TENS, Interferential current, ESWT...), acupuncture are some non-pharmacological methods.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), which is considered within the scope of conservative treatment, started in the seventies with the practice of breaking ureteric stones and has become one of the physical therapy modalities used in the treatment of various musculoskeletal diseases. Considering the historical development of ESWT, it has started to be used as a therapeutic modality in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in recent years. The process, which started with animal experiments, continued with human studies, and evidence is presented that ESWT reduces knee pain and contributes to functionality. It is noteworthy that there are few studies and their short follow-up periods. In the light of these studies, it was planned to investigate the effectiveness of ESWT treatment, which will be applied together with exercise, on pain, functionality and walking distance in individuals diagnosed with knee osteoarthritis, in comparison with the control group receiving sham ESWT.
- EligibilityCriteria: Inclusion Criteria:  Being over 50-85 years old. Diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis according to ACR clinical/radiological diagnostic criteria Stage 2 and above according to Kellgren Lawrence (K-L) Completion of Informed Signed Consent Form  Exclusion Criteria:  Gait disorders due to orthopedic or neuromuscular disease Participation in a structured physical rehabilitation program in the last 12 months before the study Those who have had an intra-articular injection of the knee in the last 6 months History of lower extremity surgery Those with mechanical instability in the knee, a history of infection, malignancy Inflammatory rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis etc.) A medical diagnosis or self-reported cognitive impairment Presence of progressive cancer AND/OR other diseases that impair general condition Situations where ESWT application is contraindicated Patients with hip and/or ankle pathology - HealthyVolunteers: No - Gender: All - MinimumAge: 50 Years - MaximumAge: 85 Years - StdAgeList: Adult, Older Adult