TY  - JOUR
T1  - Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and High-Intensity Laser Therapy in Shoulder Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review
TT  - Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and High-Intensity Laser Therapy in Shoulder Rehabilitation: A Narrative Review
AU  - Karaca, İbrahim
PY  - 2025
DA  - September
Y2  - 2025
DO  - 10.19127/bshealthscience.1760007
JF  - Black Sea Journal of Health Science
JO  - BSJ Health Sci.
PB  - Karyay Karadeniz Yayımcılık Ve Organizasyon Ticaret Limited Şirketi
WT  - DergiPark
SN  - 2619-9041
SP  - 212
EP  - 217
VL  - 8
IS  - 5
LA  - en
AB  - Shoulder disorders are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions, often resulting in pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. In recent years, non-invasive modalities such as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) have gained recognition in physiotherapy for their potential to accelerate tissue healing and provide symptomatic relief without the risks of pharmacologic or surgical intervention. This article presents a narrative review of peer reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025, selected using structured searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies were included based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a focus on clinical outcomes, therapeutic mechanisms, and safety across various shoulder pathologies. The findings indicate that both ESWT and HILT show considerable promise in managing conditions such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis, and subacromial impingement. However, variability in treatment parameters, study quality, and outcome measures continues to hinder the development of standardized clinical guidelines. This review offers practical insight for clinicians and identifies critical gaps in the literature that should inform future research priorities, including protocol optimization and comparative effectiveness studies.
KW  - Shoulder desorders
KW  - Extracorporeal shock wave therapy
KW  - High intensity laser therapy
KW  - Rehabilitation
N2  - Shoulder disorders are among the most prevalent musculoskeletal conditions, often resulting in pain, limited mobility, and reduced quality of life. In recent years, non-invasive modalities such as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and High-Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT) have gained recognition in physiotherapy for their potential to accelerate tissue healing and provide symptomatic relief without the risks of pharmacologic or surgical intervention. This article presents a narrative review of peer reviewed literature published between 2020 and 2025, selected using structured searches in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Studies were included based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a focus on clinical outcomes, therapeutic mechanisms, and safety across various shoulder pathologies. The findings indicate that both ESWT and HILT show considerable promise in managing conditions such as rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis, adhesive capsulitis, and subacromial impingement. However, variability in treatment parameters, study quality, and outcome measures continues to hinder the development of standardized clinical guidelines. This review offers practical insight for clinicians and identifies critical gaps in the literature that should inform future research priorities, including protocol optimization and comparative effectiveness studies.
CR  - Abdelhakiem NM, Saleh MSM, Shabana MMA, Abd EL Wahaab HA, Saleh HM. 2024. Effectiveness of a high intensity laser for improving hemiplegic shoulder dysfunction: A randomized controlled trial. Scientific Reports, 14: 7346. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-57453-9
CR  - Aldardour A, Al Qudimat AR, Etoom M, Alnammaneh S, al Debes W, Khasaweneh L, Abd Alrazaq A, Mysore S, Al-Jarrah M. 2025. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy as a treatment option for shoulder impingement syndrome: A systematic review and meta analysis. Bulletin of Faculty of Physical Therapy, 30: 43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s43161-025-00300-3
CR  - Demirel A, Arslan H, Gündoğdu İ. 2021. Effectiveness of ESWT and ultrasound therapy in the management of calcific tendinitis: A randomized clinical trial. Archives of Rheumatology, 36(2): 189–195. https://doi.org/10.46497/ArchRheumatol.2021.8129
CR  - Hao J, Yao Y, Remis A, Sun Y, Zhu D, Wu S. 2024. Effects of high intensity laser therapy on subacromial impingement syndrome: A systematic review and meta analysis. Lasers in Medical Science, 39: 240. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10103-024-04190-0
CR  - Ismail RM, Khalaf MMAEK, Fol HAEKE, Kamel NM. 2025. Effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on intercostobrachial neuralgia post mastectomy: A randomized controlled trial. Fizjoterapia Polska, 1: 282-288.
CR  - Lee HW, Kim JY, Park CW, Haotian B, Lee GW, Noh KC. 2022. Comparison of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and ultrasound-guided shoulder injection therapy in patients with supraspinatus tendinitis. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery, 14(4): 585–592. https://doi.org/10.4055/cios21191
CR  - Liao YK, Wu CH, Özçakar L. 2025. Hemiplegic shoulder pain: A narrative review. Rehab Pract Sci, 2025(1): 1. https://rps.researchcommons.org/journal/vol2025/iss1/1/
CR  - Mazin Y, Lemos C, Paiva C, Oliveira LA, Borges A, Lopes T. 2023. The role of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of muscle injuries: A systematic review. Cureus, 15(8): e44196. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.44196
CR  - Ranjithkumar N, Paul J, Alagesan J. 2025. Comparative effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, low-level laser therapy and ultrasound in the treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy. Biomed Pharmacol J, 18(1): 849-866.
CR  - Salem MMI, Abdelaal AAM, El Fiky AAR, Ebid AA, Battecha KH, Thabet AAEM, Mousa G. 2024. High-intensity laser therapy versus shock wave therapy in the management of diabetic frozen shoulder. Pharmacophore, 15(2): 113–118. https://doi.org/10.51847/twO5acnaXy
CR  - Sharahili TM, Alzahrani HA. 2025. Effect of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy combined with evidence-based physical therapy for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder: A randomized controlled trial. Saudi Medic J, 46(7): 816–824. https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2025.46.7.20250213
CR  - Xue X, Song Q, Yang X, Kuati A, Fu H, Liu Y, Cui G. 2024. Effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25: 357. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-024-07445-7
UR  - https://doi.org/10.19127/bshealthscience.1760007
L1  - https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/5130958
ER  -