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Shock Wave Therapy Versus High-Intensity Laser Therapy for Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
Sponsor: Ahmet Sümen
Summary
This study compares shock wave therapy with high-intensity laser therapy for tailbone pain, also called coccydynia. It includes adults aged 18 to 65 years who have had tailbone pain for at least 3 months and continue to have symptoms despite previous standard treatments. The main question is whether the two treatments differ in how much they reduce tailbone pain while sitting. The main comparison will be between pain before treatment and pain 3 months after the final treatment session. The study will also examine earlier pain relief, daily activities, and sitting ability. Participants will be assigned by chance to one of two treatment groups. One group will receive 6 shock wave therapy sessions, with 2 sessions per week. The other group will receive 10 high-intensity laser therapy sessions, with 3 sessions per week. Both treatments will be applied to the tailbone area by an experienced physician. Participants will be assessed before the first treatment session and 1 and 3 months after the final treatment session. They will rate their overall tailbone pain and pain while sitting on scales from 0 to 10. They will also complete questionnaires about how pain affects daily activities. At follow-up visits, participants will report changes in their condition and satisfaction with treatment. The study will also record sitting duration, the ability to sit for 30 minutes, pain medicine use, the need for additional treatment, and any unwanted symptoms or medical problems.
Official title: Comparison of the Effects of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and High-Intensity Laser Therapy on Pain, Function, and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Coccydynia
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
70
Start Date
2026-10-16
Completion Date
2028-12-16
Last Updated
2026-10-29
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is applied to the painful area surrounding the coccyx. Approximately 2,000 pulses are delivered per session at a frequency of 8-9 Hz. Pressure is initially set at approximately 1.5 bar and is gradually increased according to the participant's tolerance, up to 2.5-3.0 bar.
High-Intensity Laser Therapy
High-intensity laser therapy using a 1064-nm Nd:YAG laser is applied to the coccygeal region in two phases. The analgesic phase is delivered at a frequency of 25 Hz and an energy density of 12 J/cm2 for approximately 4 minutes. This is followed by a biostimulatory phase at a frequency of 25 Hz and an energy density of 70 J/cm2 for approximately 5 minutes.
Locations (1)
Ahmet Sümen, MD - Private Medical Practice
Istanbul, Kartal, Turkey (Türkiye)