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Use of X-rays to treat shoulder tendonitis/bursitis: a historical assessment

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Abstract

This article assesses the therapeutic efficacy of ionizing radiation for the treatment of shoulder tendonitis/bursitis in the USA over the period of its use (human 1936–1961; veterinary 1954–1974). Results from ~3,500 human cases were reported in the clinical case studies over 30 articles, and indicated a high treatment efficacy (>90 %) for patients. Radiotherapy was effective with a single treatment. The duration of treatment effectiveness was prolonged, usually lasting until the duration of the follow-up period (i.e., 1–5 years). Therapeutic effectiveness was reduced for conditions characterized as chronic. Similar findings were reported with race horses in the veterinary literature. These historical findings are consistent with clinical studies over the past several decades in Germany, which have used more rigorous study designs and a broader range of clinical evaluation parameters. Radiotherapy treatment was widely used in the mid twentieth century in the USA, but was abandoned following the discovery of anti-inflammatory drugs and the fear of radiation-induced cancer. That X-ray treatment could be an effective means of treating shoulder tendonitis/bursitis, as a treatment option, and is essentially unknown by the current medical community. This paper is the first comprehensive synthesis of the historical use of X-rays to treat shoulder tendonitis/bursitis and its efficacy in the USA.

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Acknowledgments

Long-term research activities in the area of dose response have been supported by awards from the US Air Force and ExxonMobil Foundation over a number of years. Sponsors had no involvement in study design, collection, analysis, interpretation, writing, and decision to submit.

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The authors claim no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Sciences, Morrill I, N344, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Edward J. Calabrese, Gaurav Dhawan & Rachna Kapoor

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  1. Edward J. Calabrese
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  2. Gaurav Dhawan
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Correspondence to Edward J. Calabrese.

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Calabrese, E.J., Dhawan, G. & Kapoor, R. Use of X-rays to treat shoulder tendonitis/bursitis: a historical assessment. Arch Toxicol 88, 1503–1517 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-014-1295-6

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