Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

ESWT 
Radial and Focused for Chronic and overuse injuries

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is transcutaneous application of high energy acoustic waves to break down chronic adhesions and calcified tissue or promote healing and repair. Focused ESWT involves the application of acoustic waves transmitted in a narrow or focused pattern. First used in the early 1980s, this type of ESWT emerged as a non-invasive treatment known as lithotripsy to eliminate kidney stones. In the decades that followed the advent of lithotripsy, researchers began to examine other potential clinical applications for focused ESWT another form of shockwave therapy, known as radial ESWT. In contrast to focused ESWT, radial ESWT has acoustic waves that are transmitted in a more diffuse and radial pattern. Several studies demonstrate that utilizing both of these forms of shockwave together, offer the best chances for improved outcomes.

As interest in these modalities grew, researchers began exploring their therapeutic potential. During the 1990s and early 2000s, numerous research studies shared findings, suggesting that ESWT could be used as a therapeutic tool. Researchers demonstrated the use of ESWT to reduce pain and promote healing in bone, tendon, ligament, and fascia in patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The reduction of spasticity and pain in neurological disorders has been the focus in recent studies.

There have been multiple published studies that have examined the use of ESWT, radial and focused forms in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and spasticity related to neurological disorders. ESWT has been approved by the FDA in 2022, and continues to grow in acceptance within the United States, however, ESWT has been widely accepted and generally the standard of care in Europe since the early 1990s for musculoskeletal disorders.

Initially lithotripsy to break apart stones within the kidneys was incidentally affecting joints of the spine as well as adjacent sacroiliac and hip joints, as unintentional shock waves were scattering in having a positive effect within arthritic areas in the musculoskeletal regions. Research followed within the 1980s and by the early 1990s development of new devices were coming forward into the market in Europe.

Available data for ESWT are promising, as further studies are identifying new uses for this therapy and the increase of activities of daily living in functional capacities within patient outcomes are showing favorable results.

The evolving list of diagnoses, for which ESWT shows potential includes:

- Shoulder tendinopathy
- Lateral epicondylitis
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
- Hamstring tendinopathy
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Medial tibial stress syndrome
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Osteoarthritis of the knee
- Osteoarthritis of the hip
- Spasticity due to spinal trauma and nerve compression.

Here at our clinic, the use of radial and focused shockwaves are utilized together within the same treatment, encouraging greater results and improved outcomes. Storz medical is the choice that top sports medicine clinics around the world are using, and this is the choice that we have within our clinic. We continue to partner with professional sports organizations that utilize ESWT.

If you are interested in learning more about ESWT AND HOW IT MAY BENEFIT SOMEBODY THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT, CONTACT US WITH QUESTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE PERTAINING THIS THERAPY.