Understanding the Outcome Rates for Calcific Supraspinatus Tendinopathy Treatments
- Head 2 Toe Osteopathy
- Jul 23
- 1 min read
The percentage outcome rates for treatment of calcific supraspinatus tendinopathy (calcific tendinitis of the shoulder) depend on the method used:
Conservative Treatment
Success rates range from 30% to 80% for conservative options such as rest, NSAIDs, physical therapy, and steroid injections.
For chronic cases, 60% to 80% success is reported, but this can drop to 61% at one year due to ongoing or recurrent symptoms.
Ultrasound-Guided Barbotage
This minimally invasive procedure has a success rate of about 70% for pain relief and functional improvement.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
Systematic reviews report success rates up to 88.5% for pain reduction and improved function with ESWT.
Some studies show a one-year success rate of 92% with a 7% recurrence rate for individualized radial ESWT protocols.
Complete radiological resorption of calcific deposits after ESWT is seen in 20–27% of patients, with partial resorption in others.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is typically reserved for cases where conservative and minimally invasive treatments fail. Surgical outcomes are generally favourable, but recovery may take six months or more, and some patients may experience intermittent pain for up to two years.
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