Shockwave Therapy and Anesthesia: What Evidence is There?

Introduction: The use of anesthetics on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for musculoskeletal disorders is a matter of debate. Although widely performed, especially on focal procedures, its scientific background is sparse. This study aims to review the current evidence on the use of anesthetics in ESWT. Methods: A literature review of the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, EBSCO, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. Studies assessing or comparing the use of any type of anesthetic in any form of shockwave therapy were collected. Results: After inclusion and exclusion criteria assessment, a total of seven studies were found to directly address the subject and only four were original articles. Conclusion: The produced evidence is small and lacks methodological quality. These facts support the necessity for new studies using the present technology to determine the real effect of anesthetics on ESWT. Level of Evidence: Level V. Literature Review Keywords: Shock waves, Radial pressure waves, Quality standards