Ultrasound Therapy for Musculoskeletal Disorders

A systematic review 1 including 22 studies with a total of 1 953 subjects was abstracted in DARE. 16 studies compared ultrasound to sham ultrasound. Pooled standardised effect size d/s (obtained by dividing the difference between the ultrasound effect and the control group effect by the range of the outcome measurement used) was 0.64% (95% CI -6.7% to 7.5%).

Another systematic review 3 including 38 RCTs or CTs was abstracted in DARE. 13 studies scored five or more on validity criteria of the Amsterdam-Maastricht Consensus List. With the possible exception of lateral epicondylitis (3 studies producing a difference in success rates of 15%, NNT = 7), there was little evidence of the effectiveness of ultrasound therapy in various musculoskeletal conditions.

Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by inconsistency (heterogeneity in interventions and outcomes).

References

• Gam AN, Johannsen F. Ultrasound therapy in musculoskeletal disorders: a meta-analysis. Pain 1995 Oct;63(1):85-91. [PubMed][DARE]
• van der Windt DA, van der Heijden GJ, van den Berg SG, ter Riet G, de Winter AF, Bouter LM. Ultrasound therapy for musculoskeletal disorders: a systematic review. Pain 1999 Jun;81(3):257-71. [PubMed][DARE]