The efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound for rotator cuff tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

• Based on low quality evidence, therapeutic ultrasound does not provide greater benefit than a placebo or advice.
• Based on low quality evidence, laser therapy may provide greater benefit than therapeutic ultrasound for pain reduction.
• Based on low quality evidence, adding therapeutic ultrasound to exercise does not provide any added benefit.
• Clinicians should not use therapeutic ultrasound until more high quality evidence are published.
• More methodologically sound studies on the efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound are warranted.

A systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of therapeutic ultrasound (US) in adults suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy. A literature search was conducted in four databases for randomized controlled trials (RCT) published until 12/2013, comparing the efficacy of US to any other interventions in adults suffering from rotator cuff tendinopathy. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to evaluate the risk of bias of included studies. Data were summarized qualitatively or quantitatively. Eleven RCTs with a low mean methodological score (50.0% ± 15.6%) were included. Therapeutic US did not provide greater benefits than a placebo intervention or advice in terms of pain reduction and functional improvement. When provided in conjunction with exercise, US therapy is not superior to exercise alone in terms of pain reduction and functional improvement (pooled mean difference of the Constant-Murley score: –0.26 with 95% confidence interval of –3.84 to 3.32). Laser therapy was found superior to therapeutic US in terms of pain reduction. Based on low to moderate level evidence, therapeutic US does not provide any benefit compared to a placebo or advice, to laser therapy or when combined to exercise. More methodologically sound studies on the efficacy of therapeutic US are warranted.