Can Ultrasound-Guided shock waves dissolve shoulder calcium deposits?
NCT ID NCT07756307
First seen Aug 10, 2026 · Last updated Aug 13, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This trial investigates whether using real-time ultrasound to guide shock wave therapy improves outcomes for people with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, a painful condition where calcium deposits form in the rotator cuff tendons. Participants aged 20 to 70 with confirmed deposits will be randomly assigned to receive either ultrasound-guided or palpation-guided shock wave therapy. The study measures changes in shoulder function, pain, and calcium deposit size over 12 weeks to see if the more precise targeting leads to better results.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) guided by ultrasound or palpation
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could establish ultrasound-guided ESWT as a more precise, non-invasive standard treatment for calcific shoulder tendinitis, potentially improving pain and function without surgery.
- What could go wrong
- The trial is relatively small (60 participants) and early-stage, so results may not apply broadly. ESWT can cause temporary pain or bruising, and the benefit over standard care is not yet proven.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University
RECRUITINGTaipei, Taipei, 116, Taiwan
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