Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory tennis elbow
Summary
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory tennis elbow .
Guidance has also been issued on Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory Achilles tendinopathy and Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory plantar fasciitis. It replaces the previous guidance on Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory tendinopathies (plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow) (IPG139, November 2005).
Description
Tennis elbow is a condition affecting the tendons of the elbow which connect the muscles of the forearm to the upper arm bone. It may be associated with tiny tears in the fibres of the tendon and is usually caused by overuse or injury. Symptoms include pain in the outer part of the elbow, weakness or stiffness. In extracorporeal shockwave therapy, a machine is used to deliver sound waves to the painful area. It is not known exactly how it works, but it is thought that it might stimulate healing of the tendons.
OPCS code:
Details
Therapeutic procedures
- British Orthopaedic Association
- British Society of Skeletal Radiologists
- Royal College of Radiologists
- British Society for Rheumatology
- British Elbow and Shoulder Society
Contact details:
(for general enquiries or comments)
(for procedure specific enquiries or comments)
ip@nice.org.uk
Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA
