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NCT Number: NCT07468734

Shock Wave Versus Traditional Physical Therapy for Adult Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis

This study aims to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) versus structured therapeutic exercise in patients with chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA), with respect to pain reduction and improvement of knee function.

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Key information

Conditions

Shock Wave Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis Traditional Physical Therapy

Age range

40 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

German International University

Cairo, 12613, Egypt

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Magdy M Shabana, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201006053332

About this study

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a highly prevalent chronic degenerative joint disease characterized by progressive cartilage loss, chronic pain, stiffness, functional disability, and reduced quality of life in adults, particularly the elderly.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has emerged as a non-invasive physical modality that delivers acoustic pressure waves to musculoskeletal tissues, stimulating biological responses such as enhanced microcirculation, anti-inflammatory cytokine modulation, neovascularization, cartilage and bone repair processes, and decreased pain transmission.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adults ≥ 40 years with clinical and radiographic diagnosis of chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II-III).
  • Both sexes.
  • Persistent knee pain ≥ 3 months.
  • Ability to provide consent and participate in interventions.

Exclusion criteria

  • Prior knee surgery within last 6 months.
  • Intra-articular injections in the last 3 months.
  • Systemic inflammatory arthritis or other neurological conditions affecting gait.

Treatment and study plan

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Other

Patients will receive extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

exercise therapy program

Other

Patients will undergo a structured exercise therapy program.

Primary outcomes

  1. Change in pain intensity

    Time frame: 5-week after intervention

    Change in pain intensity will be assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which is a 10-cm horizontal line used to measure pain intensity, ranging from (0) "no pain" to (10) "worst imaginable pain".

Secondary outcomes

  1. Stiffness assessment

    Time frame: 5-week after intervention

    Stiffness will be assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

    WOMAC will be recorded at baseline, at the end of the intervention period, and during follow-up. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

  2. Assessment of physical function

    Time frame: 5-week after intervention

    Physical function will be assessed using the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC).

    WOMAC will be recorded at baseline, at the end of the intervention period, and during follow-up. Higher scores indicate greater symptom severity.

  3. Knee range of motion

    Time frame: 5-week after intervention

    Knee range of motion (ROM) will be assessed.

  4. Incidence of adverse events

    Time frame: 5-week after intervention

    Incidence of adverse events will be recorded.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Magdy M Shabana, MD

CONTACT

[email protected]

00201006053332

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

German International University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Shock Wave Versus Traditional Physical Therapy for Adult Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Mar 13, 2026
Registry last updated
Mar 19, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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