Ultrasound-Guided Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis (ESWT)

August 9, 2026 updated by: Huang ShihWei, Taipei Medical University WanFang Hospital

Effectiveness of Ultrasound-Guided Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Trial

Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder is a debilitating musculoskeletal condition that significantly impacts the working-age population, typically those between 30 and 60 years of age. Accounting for approximately 7- 17% of shoulder pain complaints, it is characterized by the pathological deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals within the rotator cuff tendons, most notably the supraspinatus. The progression of the disease, particularly during the resorptive phase described in Uhthoff's cycle, is associated with a dramatic increase in intratendinous pressure and severe inflammatory pain, leading to substantial functional impairment and socioeconomic burden. While Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a well established non-invasive modality known to promote calcific resorption via cavitation effects and mechanotransduction-induced neovascularization, its clinical efficacy remains highly variable across current literature, with success rates ranging widely from 47% to 87%. This inconsistency is largely attributed to the limitations inherent in conventional "blind" or landmark-based targeting techniques. Given that calcific deposits are often small, deeply situated, or obscured by the acromion, palpation-guided targeting is frequently unreliable, resulting in suboptimal energy delivery to the pathology and potential collateral damage to surrounding healthy tissues. This one-year research project aims to evaluate the superior efficacy of "Real-time Ultrasound-Guided" ESWT compared to conventional methods. The investigators propose a prospective, randomized, double-blind, controlled trial (RCT) that will recruit 60 patients with confirmed calcific tendinitis. Participants will be stratified by Gärtner classification (Type I-III) to ensure balanced morphological distribution and then randomized into either an experimental group receiving Ultrasound-Guided Focused ESWT or a control group receiving Landmark-based/Sham ESWT. The study incorporates rigorous methodology, including a priori power analysis for sample size estimation, strict allocation concealment, and assessor blinding. Outcomes will be assessed at baseline, 4, and 12 weeks post-treatment. Primary outcomes include the Constant-Murley Score (CMS) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS), while secondary outcomes involve quantitative ultrasound analysis using ImageJ software to measure the reduction in calcific deposit volume and assess tendon integrity. The investigators hypothesize that the integration of realtime ultrasound guidance will significantly enhance therapeutic precision, leading to higher rates of calcific resorption and functional recovery. The findings are expected to provide high-level evidence to standardize ESWT protocols, thereby advancing the implementation of precision medicine in the field of physical and rehabilitation medicine.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

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Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Taiwan
    • Taipei
      • Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan, 116
        • Recruiting
        • Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age between 20 and 70 years
  • Unilateral calcific tendinitis of the shoulder confirmed by clinical physical examination, including a positive Neer's impingement test
  • Symptom duration of more than 3 months
  • Imaging (radiography and/or high-resolution ultrasound) demonstrating a calcific deposit within a rotator cuff tendon with a maximal diameter greater than 5 mm
  • Baseline self-reported pain intensity greater than 4 on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS, 0-10)
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Concomitant full-thickness rotator cuff tear
  • History of fracture or surgery involving the ipsilateral shoulder
  • Coagulopathy, or anticoagulant therapy that cannot be safely discontinued
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
  • Malignancy, particularly involving or adjacent to the shoulder region
  • Local infection or skin lesion at the intended treatment site
  • Injection therapy to the ipsilateral shoulder within the preceding 6 weeks
  • Any other condition that, in the judgment of the investigator, makes the participant unsuitable for participation in the trial

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Ultrasound localization ESWT
Ultrasound image guided the depth and location of calcification point, Perform ESWT for calcific tendonitis of shoulder
Procedure: Ultrasound guide localization
Use ultrasound guided localization of calcific tendonitis of shoulder and then perform Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, ESWT 0.12 to 0.25 mJ/mm 6000 times
Active Comparator: Palpation localization ESWT
Palpation and depends the feedback of participants localization of ESWT points
Procedure: Palpation localization
Use palpation localization of calcific tendonitis of shoulder and then perform Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, ESWT 0.12 to 0.25 mJ/mm 6000 times

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Constant-Murley Score (CMS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 after the start of treatment (primary endpoint at Week 12)
The Constant-Murley Score is a clinician-administered instrument assessing shoulder function across four domains: pain (15 points), activities of daily living (20 points), range of motion (40 points), and strength (25 points), for a total score of 0-100. Higher scores indicate better shoulder function. The measure compares real-time high-resolution ultrasound-guided focused ESWT (experimental) with X-ray plus palpation-guided focused ESWT (control) for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12; change from baseline is reported.
Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 after the start of treatment (primary endpoint at Week 12)
Change in Pain Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 after the start of treatment (primary endpoint at Week 12)
Pain intensity is self-reported on a 0-10 Visual Analog Scale, where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst imaginable pain. Ratings are collected for pain at rest, pain with activity, night pain, and average pain over the past week. Higher scores indicate greater pain. Change from baseline is compared between the ultrasound-guided ESWT and landmark (X-ray + palpation)-guided ESWT groups. Assessed at baseline, Week 4, and Week 12.
Baseline, Week 4, and Week 12 after the start of treatment (primary endpoint at Week 12)
Change from Baseline in Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Patient-reported questionnaire comprising a 5-item pain subscale and an 8-item disability subscale, each item scored 0-10. Subscale and total scores are expressed as percentages (0-100%), with higher scores indicating greater pain and disability.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 12

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Calcific Deposit Resorption Rate
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Calcific deposit dimensions (long axis, short axis, area, and estimated volume) are quantified from ultrasound images using ImageJ software. Percentage volume reduction from baseline is calculated. Resorption is additionally categorized as complete, partial (>50%), partial (<50%), unchanged, or increased.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Change from Baseline in Shoulder Range of Motion (ROM)
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Active and passive range of motion measured in degrees with a goniometer for forward flexion, abduction, external rotation at 90° abduction, and internal rotation at 90° abduction.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Tendon Structural Integrity on Ultrasound
Time Frame: Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Supraspinatus (or affected) tendon integrity graded on high-resolution ultrasound as intact, partial-thickness tear, or full-thickness tear. Tendon thickness is recorded in millimeters.
Baseline, Week 4, Week 12
Patient Global Impression of Change (PGIC)
Time Frame: Week 4, Week 12
Single-item 7-point scale ranging from 1 (very much improved) to 7 (very much worse), capturing the participant's overall perceived change since starting treatment.
Week 4, Week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Taipei Medical University WanFang Hospital

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
June 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
April 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
August 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 5, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 5, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 10, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
August 12, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 9, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • N202604139

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

De-identified individual participant data (IPD) that underlie the results reported in the publication (including text, tables, figures, and appendices) will be shared. This includes baseline characteristics, intervention adherence, and primary and secondary outcome measures. Additionally, the study protocol, statistical analysis plan (SAP), and data dictionary will be made available.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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