Shockwave Therapy
New Shockwave Therapy Indications In Sports Medicine
Shockwave therapy can be used for both chronic and acute soft tissue disorders in the field of sports medicine. Latest results prove shockwave efficiency in muscle strain healing, swt dramatically reduces healing and recovery interval and allows faster comeback to full sports endurance.
Indications in sport medicine include:
- Acute muscle strain healing
- Muscle regeneration support
- Acute muscle spasm
- Jumper´s knee
- Tennis elbow
- Shoulder tendonitis
- Groin pain
- Achilles tendon pain
Shockwaves definition
Shockwaves are acoustic waves with an extremely high energy peak like ones which occur in the atmosphere after an explosive event such as a lightning strike or a sonic boom. A shockwave differs from ultrasound by its extremely large pressure amplitude. Additionaly, ultrasound usually consists of a periodic oscillation, whereas a shockwave is a single pulse.
Evolution of the shockwave therapy
The term “shockwave therapy” refers to the mechanical pressure pulses that expand as a wave within the human body. In 1980, the shockwave method was used for the first time to disintegrate kidney stones in a patient (Journal of Urology, 1982). During the past two decades, this method has become the standard treatment of choice for renal and urethral calculi.
Shockwaves therapeutic effect
Extracorporeal acoustic wave therapy (in contrast to lithotripsy) is not used to disintegrate tissues, but rather cause microscopic intersticial and extracellular biological effects which include tissue regeneration. In modern pain therapy, acoustic wave energy is conducted from the point of origin, which is the acoustic wave generator (via a coupling gel) to the body regions experiencing pain. There, its healing capacity is applied.
Clinical indications
Over time, acoustic waveas proven to be an effective and non-invasive method for the treatment of localized musculoskeletal pathology including: epicondylitis, heel spur and plantar fascitis, rotator cuff disorders, trigger points, variety of chronic tendinopathies and many other indications.
Fields of shockwaves application
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is most frequently used in physiotherapy, orthopaedics and sports medicine.