RisksComplications | Shock wave therapy for the treatment of tennis elbow

RisksComplications

However, if carried out correctly, the treatment is otherwise rarely accompanied by complications. At the elbow there are several smaller nerves and blood vessels, which are sometimes damaged by the shock waves. This can lead to bruising (haematoma) or pain in the treated area. If the already existing pain is made worse by the treatment and this does not subside even during the second or third session, the shock wave therapy should be discontinued and switched to one of the other therapy options.

Success rate

The success rate for isolated application is considered quite high at about 80%. However, it should be noted that the success depends on a number of factors, especially on the time at which the therapy is applied. In an early stage of tennis elbow, shock wave therapy helps more reliably than in the chronic stage.

Nevertheless, it is a very effective procedure, especially in chronic tennis elbow, which is becoming more and more popular due to its low side effects and the good prospects of complete healing. In some cases it may be useful to use other methods in parallel to extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), such as physiotherapy or anti-inflammatory drugs, which are best injected locally. This can significantly increase the success rate.