Introduction:
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is used in a variety of clinical applications including the management of chronic pain conditions. ESWT has been around since the 1980s and has shown to be effective in treating musculoskeletal disorders including arthritis, plantar fasciitis, shoulder tendinopathy, elbow tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, and Achilles tendinopathy.
Forms of Shockwave Therapy:
ESWT is currently delivered through two primary forms: Focused shockwave therapy (F‐SWT) and radial shockwave therapy (R‐SWT). F‐SWT uses acoustic sound waves to penetrate deep into the affected area, while R‐SWT uses pressure waves to achieve a similar effect.
Clinical Test:
In a sample consisting of 384 patients suffering from pain in their elbow, feet, and shoulders they were split into two groups. One group got conservative therapy, which included medications and an exercise program. The other group got shockwave therapy treatments using a STORZ MEDICAL Master Pulse MP200 (The same machine we use in our clinic).
Results:
Initially, the first group showed reductions in pain when compared to group 2, however in the 4-week follow up the results of the shockwave group were significantly better compared to the group that only received conservative therapy.
Conclusion:
The study reveals that patients who fail to respond to conventional treatments can use shockwave therapy as a way to improve pain, functionality, and quality of life. Shockwave therapy represents an innovative method for treating pain that is considered safe, non-invasive, and low-cost.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6029898/
