Application of Percutaneous Electrolysis, Percutaneous Neuromodulation and Eccentric Exercise

Application of Ultrasound-guided Electrolysis, Percutaneous Neuromodulation and Eccentric Exercise in Supraspinatus Tendinopathy

The supraspinatus muscle tendinopathy show a big impact, however, there is a lack of awareness about the options of the physiotherapist treatment. It is necessary to do studies about effectiveness of therapeutic percutaneous electrolysis (EPTE®). This technique enables treatment of the tendinopathies and the broken muscle fibrilare. It is base on the application of galvanic current through a acupuncture needle. To analyze the effectiveness of therapeutic percutaneous electrolysis (EPTE®) in the treatment of supraspinatus muscle tendinopathy. Single center randomized controlled trial, parallel treatment design. A specialist physician will be diagnosed the supraspinatus muscle tendinopathy. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive treatmen for 4 weeks: EPTE® associated with eccentric exercises or dry needling with the same eccentric exercises. Both interventions were performed under ultrasound guidance with a portable ultrasound (General Electric LogicE). Data will be collected by a blinded evaluator.

Eccentric exercises of the supraspinatus muscle were performed in 3 sets of 10 repetitions. Participants were asked to perform the exercise program on an individual basis twice every day for 4 weeks. The eccentric program consisted of 3 exercises, focusing on the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and scapular muscles. Participants were asked to do a normal abduction (concentric phase) and a slow return to the initial position (eccentric phase) included first the concentric phase, and the eccentric phase was slowly conducted. The exercise program was taught by a physiotherapist in the first session and monitored in the subsequent sessions.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with supraspinatus tendinopathies that do not improve with conventional physiotherapy or pharmacological therapy protocols.
• Subjects who are in an active state of pain, who present painful symptoms in a sensitive and painful area of the tendon of insertion of the supraspinatus muscle in the humerus.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who have received surgery intervention in the same shoulder, or have suffered fractures or dislocations in the same shoulder.
• Individuals have received the proposed treatment in one month´s period previously.
• Individuals who suffering from cervical radiculopathies, fibromialgia síndrome, cardiac patients with pacemakers, cancer, infectious processes, or generalized lymphedema.
• Pregnant women can not receive this treatment intervention.