SHOCKWAVE THERAPY - What Is It?

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is an innovative treatment method used for a variety of common tendon conditions, chronic soft tissue injuries and certain bone conditions. It is an evidence-based, non-invasive treatment which can be an alternative to invasive surgical procedures. The main benefits of shockwave therapy are pain relief and restoration of function.

A shockwave is essentially a pressure disturbance that propagates rapidly through a medium. Put simply, a shockwave is an acoustic wave – a means of transmitting energy. Acoustic waves that are generated by the shockwave trigger biological effects, which lead to faster and long-term healing and regeneration of the tissue.

Physiology of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Shockwaves are sound waves that have specific physical characteristics, including nonlinearity, high peak pressure followed by low tensile amplitude, short rise time, and short duration (10 ms). They have a single pulse, a wide frequency range (0-20 MHz), and a high pressure amplitude (0-120 MPa).

These characteristics produce a positive and negative phase of shockwave. The positive phase produces direct mechanical forces, whereas the negative phase generates cavitation and gas bubbles that subsequently implode at high speeds, generating a second wave of shockwaves.

In comparison to ultrasound waves, the shockwave peak pressure is approximately 1000 times greater than the peak pressure of an ultrasound wave.

How does it work?

Therapists use a specialist device to deliver acoustic energy through the skin to the injured part of the body.

There are four different ways to produce a shockwave:

· spark discharge

· piezoelectric

· electromagnetic

· pneumatic (or electrohydraulic)

In therapy, the most commonly employed generation method is based on the pneumatic system. The wave that is generated will vary in its energy content and will also have different penetration characteristics in human tissue.

Shockwave therapy has a twofold way of working to reduce persistent tendon pain. The shockwaves firstly work to desensitise nerve endings, often resulting in an immediate reduction in pain. Secondly the shockwaves cause controlled micro-trauma to the tissue, leading to an increase in the blood flow to the injured area. The increased blood circulation will activate and accelerate the body’s own healing response.

Benefits of shockwave therapy

• Proven Effective – Independent studies proved patients undergoing shockwave therapy have a 60% - 90% chance of healing their injury.

• Boost Collagen Production – Collagen is one of the body’s building blocks needed to heal an injury. Shockwave therapy aids in increasing collagen production.

• Breaks up calcification - Trauma to the tendons can generate calcified fibroblasts in the injured area. Calcified fibroblasts cause chronic pain, which decreases mobility.

• Non-Invasive – Shockwave therapy is a strong option for patients who want to avoid surgery, prescription medication, and possible side effects.

Pathologies

Shockwave therapy is primarily used in the treatment of:

- Non-invasive treatment for tendon and other pathologies of the musculoskeletal system

- Plantar fasciitis

- Supraspinatus tendinopathy

- Achilles tendinopathy

- Lateral Epicondylitis

REF: https://www.physio-pedia.com/Extracorporeal_Shockwave_Therapy_(ESWT)