Objectives: To clinically characterize calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder (CT) through a prospective quasi-experimental beforeand-after study, which provides a level of demonstrable evidence to support the decision-making and demonstrate the effectiveness of acetic acid iontophoresis and ultrasound in the treatment of CT. Methods: Prospective, quasi-experimental before-after intervention study was conducted on 44 patients who referred to the rehabilitation department, Santísima Trinidad's General Foundation hospital, Salamanca, from June 2014 to April 2016. Outcome measures: 1) Pain: measured by visual analogical scale (VAS); 2) calcification size: in millimetres, both measured radiologically at the beginning/end of treatment; 3) Intervention: Iontophoresis with 5% acetic acid at 4.7 mA × 10 minutes and continuous ultrasound 1 W/cm 2 /1 MHz × 5 minutes over calcification.Results: Mean age of the subjects was 54.2 years (n = 44), 65.9% female (n = 29), (95% with supraspinatus tendon (n = 38) and 5% with subscapularis (n = 2); 55% had complication in left shoulder (n = 22), 45% in right shoulder (n = 18) and 4.5% bilateral (n = 2). Regarding the occupation, 59.1% had (n = 26) administrative positions and 40.9% manual jobs (n = 18). On personal history: 34.09% were smoker (n = 15), 4.5% had diabetes (n = 2) and calcium intake secondary to osteoporosis was recorded for 2.27% (n = 1) of the subjects. Regarding radiological type: 68.18% formative (n = 30), 38.72% resorptive (n = 14) were observed. Average number of sessions was 19 and 9.01% (n = 4) of the subjects had treatment complications as intolerance/erythema/burn. Average initial pain was 7.7 points (VAS scale), significantly decreased (P = 0.0000) post treatment to 2.2. Initial average size of calcification was 10 mm and significantly decreased (P = 0.0000) post treatment to 3 mm. With respect to the change of calcification: success/cure rate was 56.8% (n = 25), improvement rate was 25% (n = 11); failure rate was 18.2% (n = 8). Conclusions: CT is common in middle-aged working females. It affects supraspinatus tendon. It is associated with smoking. Occupational risk factors are awkward positions and lifting weights. Iontophoresis with 5% acetic acid and ultrasound is a safe, simple and inexpensive technique, capable to reduce pain and calcification, with a recommended degree of scientific evidence (2B).

Background: The study was conducted to: 1) demonstrate the effectiveness of a treatment protocol with Ozone therapy in pain, function, and quality of life in patients with knee osteoarthritis; and 2) apply Ozone as a conservative treatment option with a demonstrable level of scientific evidence. Methods: This prospective quasi-experimental before-after study was conducted on 119 patients with knee osteoarthritis, having Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or more, who were referred to hospital of Santa Cristina's University, from January 2012 to April 2016. The protocol consisted of an intra-articular infiltration of a medical mixture of Oxygen-Ozone (95%-5%) 20mL, at a 20ug / mL concentration, during a total number of 4 sessions (once per week). Pain and quality of life were measured by visual analogical scale (VAS) and Western Ontarion and Mc Master Universities Index for osteoarthritis (WOMAC) at the beginning and end of the treatment. Results: The mean age of participants was 66.29 years. The sample was composed of 70.5% Women (n = 84) and 29.5% men (n = 35). The severity of OA according to Kellgren-Lawrence scale was 2.94°. Post-puncture erythema was 8.4% (n = 10). Pain measured by VAS significantly decreased (P < 0.0001) from the score 7.89 to 2.1. The scores of WOMAC-pain, WOMAC-stiffness, and WOMAC-function subscales decreased significantly (P < 0.0001) from 15.9 to 4.4, 3.5 to 0.9, and 49.5 to 17.6, respectively. The WOMAC total score decreased from 68.9 to 22.9 (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Ozone is a safe medical treatment that can improve significantly pain relief, stiffness, and function in patients with knee osteoarthritis. The study shows a good level of evidence as well as a good grade of recommendation that allows us to consider Ozone as a conservative therapeutic option in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

el papel del ácido hialurónico, el plasma rico en plaquetas (PRP) y el ozono en la modulación de la inflamación: una revisión. / A new paradigm for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: the role of hyaluronic acid, platelet rich plasma (PRP) and ozone in modulating inflammation: a review.