The Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Pain Intensity and Neck Disability for Patients With Myofascial Pain Syndrome in the Neck and Shoulder: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

This 2021 meta-analysis evaluated the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in treating myofascial pain syndrome (MPS) of the neck and shoulder. Analyzing 11 randomized controlled trials, the study found that ESWT significantly improved pain intensity (SMD = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.11 to 1.23; P = 0.02) and pressure