Treatments

• September 12, 2025

  What is the evidence for symptom reduction and functional improvements after corticosteroid injections in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome?

  Local corticosteroid injection vs placebo for carpal tunnel syndrome. Ashworth NL, Bland JDP, Chapman KM, Tardif G, Albarqouni L, Nagendran A. Local corticosteroid injection versus placebo for carpal tunnel syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2023 Feb 1;2(2):CD015148. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD015148. PMID: 36722795; PMCID: PMC9891198.
• September 12, 2025

  What is the evidence for extracorporeal shock-wave therapy on pain reduction in patients with various tendinopathies?

  Majidi L, Khateri S, Nikbakht N, Moradi Y, Nikoo MR. The effect of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy on pain in patients with various tendinopathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024 Apr 24;16(1):93. doi: 10.1186/s13102-024-00884-8. PMID: 38659004; PMCID: PMC11041007.
• September 3, 2025

  What is the evidence for radiofrequency ablation for facet joint and sacroiliac joint related lower back pain?

  Xu B, Zhao X, Zhang L, Feng S, Li J, Xu Y. Radiofrequency vs Steroid Injections for Spinal Facet and Sacroiliac Joint Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Pain Res. 2024 Sep 4;17:2903-2916. doi: 10.2147/JPR.S469615. PMID: 39247173; PMCID: PMC11380878.
• September 3, 2025

  What is the evidence for electrical bone stimulation for healing, pain management, and functional improvement in patients with fractures?

  Aleem IS, Aleem I, Evaniew N, Busse JW, Yaszemski M, Agarwal A, Einhorn T, Bhandari M. Efficacy of Electrical Stimulators for Bone Healing: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Sham-Controlled Trials. Sci Rep. 2016 Aug 19;6:31724. doi: 10.1038/srep31724. PMID: 27539550; PMCID: PMC4990885.
• September 3, 2025

  What is the evidence for electrical bone stimulation for fusion rate in patients after spinal surgery?

  Luo M, Zeng X, Jiang L, Yi Q, Zhang L, Wang H, Huang J, Zhang Z, Tang S, Xiao Z. Effect of electrical stimulation on the fusion rate after spinal surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurosurg Rev. 2024 Sep 16;47(1):618. doi: 10.1007/s10143-024-02874-3. PMID: 39278993.
• September 2, 2025

  What is the evidence for cryotherapy in patients with knee osteoarthritis for pain reduction and functional improvement?

  Dias RF, de Lima Silva S, de Mello SP, Flores LJF, Buzanello MR, Bertolini GRF. Cryotherapy in Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis. Pain Pract. 2025 Jul;25(6):e70055. doi: 10.1111/papr.70055. PMID: 40521698; PMCID: PMC12168428.
• August 20, 2025

  What is the evidence for suprascapular nerve blocks in patients with chronic shoulder pain for pain reduction and functional improvement?

  Yang F, Li X, Wang J, Gao Q, Pan M, Duan Z, Ren C, Guo P, Zhang Y. Efficacy of different analgesic strategies combined with conventional physiotherapy program for treating chronic shoulder pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Orthop Surg Res. 2024 Sep 6;19(1):544. doi: 10.1186/s13018-024-05037-8. PMID: 39238008; PMCID: PMC11378570.
• August 19, 2025

  What is the evidence for viscosupplementation injections of hyaluronic acid to reduce pain in patients with osteoarthritis of the shoulder?

  Familiari F, Ammendolia A, Rupp MC, Russo R, Pujia A, Montalcini T, Marotta N, Mercurio M, Galasso O, Millett PJ, Gasparini G, de Sire A. Efficacy of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid in patients with glenohumeral joint osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Orthop Res. 2023 Nov;41(11):2345-2358. doi: 10.1002/jor.25648. Epub 2023 Jun 26. PMID: 37314198.
• August 18, 2025

  What is the evidence for Genicular Nerve Blocks in patients with knee osteoarthritis for pain reduction?

  Vilchez-Cavazos F, Gamboa Alonso AA, Simental-Mendía M, Peña-Martínez VM, Acosta-Olivo CA, Villarreal-Villarreal GA. Genicular Nerve Block for Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials. Clin J Pain. 2024 Oct 1;40(10):618-624. doi: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000001240. PMID: 39143682.
• December 7, 2024

  What is the evidence for the use of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injection in knee meniscal repair?

  Li Z, Weng X. Platelet-rich plasma use in meniscus repair treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical studies. J Orthop Surg Res. 2022 Oct 8;17(1):446. doi: 10.1186/s13018-022-03293-0. PMID: 36209223; PMCID: PMC9548158.
• November 13, 2020

  What is the evidence for corticosteroid injection for Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Hip)?

  Barratt PA, Brookes N, Newson A. Conservative treatments for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic review. Br J Sports Med. 2017 Jan;51(2):97-104. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2015-095858. Epub 2016 Nov 10. PMID: 27834675.
• September 21, 2019

  What is the evidence for corticosteroid injections for trigger finger?

  Huisstede BM, Gladdines S, Randsdorp MS, Koes BW. Effectiveness of Conservative, Surgical, and Postsurgical Interventions for Trigger Finger, Dupuytren Disease, and De Quervain Disease: A Systematic Review. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018 Aug;99(8):1635-1649.e21. PubMed PMID: 28860097.
• October 6, 2018

  What is the evidence for IV Ketamine infusion for complex regional pain syndrome?

  Zhao J, Wang Y, Wang D. The Effect of Ketamine Infusion in the Treatment of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: a Systemic Review and Meta-analysis. Curt Pain Headache Rep. 2018 Feb 5;22(2):12. doi: 10.1007/s11916-018-0664-x. Review. PubMed PMID: 29404715.
• August 24, 2018

  What is the evidence for injections (corticosteroid, viscosupplementation, PRP) for arthritis of the ankle?

  Vannabouathong C, Del Fabbro G, Sales B, Smith C, Li CS, Yardley D, Bandari M, Petrisor BA; EnCORE Research Group. Intra-articular Injections in the Treatment of Symptoms from Ankle Arthritis: A Systematic Review. Foot Ankle Int. 2018 Jun 1:1071100718779375. doi: 10.1177/1071100718779375. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29909689
• February 3, 2017

  What is the evidence for intra-articular PRP (Platelet rich plasma) injection for knee osteoarthritis?

  Dai, W. L., Zhou, A. G., Zhang, H., & Zhang, J. (2016). Efficacy of Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis: A Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Arthroscopy. doi: 10.1016/j.arthro.2016.09.024
• July 5, 2016

  What is the evidence for corticosteroid injection to treat osteoarthritis of the femoral-acetabular (Hip) joint?

  McCabe PS, et al., The efficacy of intra-articular steroids in hip osteoarthritis: a systematic review, Osteoarthritis and Cartilage (2016), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2016.04.018
• March 22, 2016

  What is the evidence for prolotherapy for achilles tendinopathy?

  Sanderson LM, Bryant A, "Effectiveness and safety of prolotherapy injections for management of lower limb tendinopathy and fasciopathy: a systematic review", J Foot Ankle Res., 2015 Oct 25, 8:57.
• May 26, 2015

  What is the evidence for conservative (non-surgical) measures to treat carpal tunnel syndrome?

  Huisstede BM1, Hoogvliet P, Randsdorp MS, Glerum S, van Middelkoop M, Koes BW. Carpal tunnel syndrome. Part I: effectiveness of nonsurgical treatments--a systematic review., Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2010 Jul;91(7):981-1004.
  
• November 30, 2014

  What is the evidence for PRP injection for the treatment of soft tissue injuries?

  Moraes, V. Y., M. Lenza, M. J. Tamaoki, F. Faloppa and J. C. Belloti (2014). "Platelet-rich therapies for musculoskeletal soft tissue injuries." Cochrane Database Syst Rev 4: CD010071.
• November 30, 2014

  What is the evidence for trigger point injections for myofascial pain?

  Scott, N. A., B. Guo, P. M. Barton and R. D. Gerwin (2009). "Trigger point injections for chronic non-malignant musculoskeletal pain: a systematic review." Pain Med 10(1): 54-69.
• November 2, 2014

  What is the evidence for epidural injections for spinal stenosis?

  Ramsin M. Benyamin, MD, et al., The Effectiveness of Lumbar Interlaminar Epidural Injections in Managing Chronic Low Back and Lower Extremity Pain, Pain Physician 2012; 15:E363-E404
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Brien, S., et al. (2011). "Meta-analysis of the related nutritional supplements dimethyl sulfoxide and methylsulfonylmethane in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee." Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2011: 528403.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for S-Adenosylmethionine in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Rutjes, A. W., et al. (2009). "S-Adenosylmethionine for osteoarthritis of the knee or hip." Cochrane Database Syst Rev(4): CD007321.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for avocado-soybean unsaponifiables in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Christensen, R., et al. (2008). "Symptomatic efficacy of avocado-soybean unsaponifiables (ASU) in osteoarthritis (OA) patients: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials." Osteoarthritis Cartilage 16(4): 399-408.
  
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for collagen derivates (e.g. gelatin) in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Van Vijven, J. P., et al. (2012). "Symptomatic and chondroprotective treatment with collagen derivatives in osteoarthritis: a systematic review." Osteoarthritis Cartilage 20(8): 809-821.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for glucosamine chondroitin in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Hochberg, M. C. (2010). "Structure-modifying effects of chondroitin sulfate in knee osteoarthritis: an updated meta-analysis of randomized placebo-controlled trials of 2-year duration." Osteoarthritis Cartilage 18 Suppl 1: S28-31.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for naproxen/esomeprazole fixed dose combination (Vimovo TM) and NSAIDs in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Dhillon, S. (2011). "Naproxen/esomeprazole fixed-dose combination: for the treatment of arthritic symptoms and to reduce the risk of gastric ulcers." Drugs Aging 28(3): 237-248.
  
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for manual and manipulative therapy in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee?

  Brantingham, J. W., et al. (2012). "Manipulative therapy for lower extremity conditions: update of a literature review." J Manipulative Physiol Ther 35(2): 127-166.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for EDTA in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome?

  Van Der Sande, R., et al. (2013). "Subacromial impingement syndrome: Effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid, or other injections: A systematic review." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 94(5): 961-976.
• August 5, 2014

  What is the evidence for tenoxicam injections in the treatment of subacromial impingement syndrome?

  Van Der Sande, R., et al. (2013). "Subacromial impingement syndrome: Effectiveness of pharmaceutical interventions-nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroid, or other injections: A systematic review." Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 94(5): 961-976.