Within a wide variety of modern treatment modalities for very specific and quite common diseases and conditions, shock wave therapy (ESWT) has become an indispensable alternative medical technology procedure.
What is shock wave therapy?
In shock wave therapy, sound pressure waves are generated by an electrically powered transducer and targeted to calcified organs and organ parts. Shock wave therapy, or ESWT for short, is a form of treatment that is technically accurately referred to as extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Shock wave therapy is based on the use of shock waves of a selected frequency range. It is mainly those shock waves that are rich in energy. For this reason, shock wave therapy belongs to high-energy technologies. Shock wave therapy has been proven since the 1980s. Radial shock waves are used in shock wave therapy. Due to an aligned and limited focusing of these sound waves within the complete shock wave therapy on the diseased body areas, desired treatment results can be achieved effectively and almost painlessly. These conditions contribute to the fact that shock wave therapy has found extensive medical use and guarantees relief for many patients.
Function, effect, and goals
In shock wave therapy, sound pressure waves are generated by an electrically operated transducer and targeted to calcified organs and organ parts. These sound pressure waves can be varied in terms of their parameters. This concerns changes in their energy content, the so-called rate of rise and propagation, and other fine adjustments. The sound pressure waves in shock wave therapy are characterized by uniform shock waves with a specific rhythm and continuous pulsing. If the sound pressure waves are directed specifically at solid media, they can be destroyed by the energy content. This occurs in a similar way to blasting and attrition. Even extremely fine particles can be ablated based on shock wave therapy. Shock wave therapy can be used not only on the basis of sound pressure waves, but also on the basis of the inverse piezoelectric effect. The effect of shock wave therapy is based on different mechanisms. These can even contribute in a combination with each other to the desired treatment success. In addition to the reduction of calcium deposits in unity with the natural breakdown of calcium by the organism itself, even the smallest calcareous components can be completely eliminated. Another effect of shock wave therapy includes the relief of pain. Shock wave therapy is based on influencing the cell walls of the involved nerve cells. This leads to the fact that the transmission of pain impulses to the brain is significantly limited. Shockwave therapy is a modern and effective non-stress procedure that can stimulate the regeneration of bone substance. The extraordinarily high amount of energy that flows into the treated areas during shock wave therapy promotes the formation of new healthy bone cells. This mainly affects the osteoblasts. Shock wave therapy is used in orthopedics and the treatment of pain in soft tissues as well as in urology. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is excellent for destroying kidney stones and eliminating painful conditions of the elbows, heels and shoulders. In addition, stubborn calciferous deposits caused by arthritic diseases can be applied by shock wave therapy. Shock wave therapy thus saves many patients from surgical interventions. Chronic wounds, leg ulcers and poorly healing fractures can also be treated with shock wave therapy.
Risks and dangers
Because shock wave therapy delivers concentrated high amounts of energy to the affected areas, various undesirable side effects occur locally. Typical side effects of shock wave therapy to mild to moderate bruising occur. These are localized. In addition, shock wave therapy produces swelling of the skin regions and an increase in painful discomfort, which, however, subsides soon after therapy. To reduce pain during shock wave therapy, local anesthesia or anesthesia may be administered.To a greater or lesser extent, irritation of the skin may occur after shock wave therapy. These become visible in particular through reddening of the skin. Shock wave therapy is not suitable for all patients. This alternative treatment method is excluded for people with blood clotting disorders, inflammation of the selected organs and parts of organs, as well as in the presence of pacemakers. People of a certain age, when the body is still developing and growing, are also not treated with shock wave therapy. Also excluded from shock wave therapy are patients suffering from infected pseudoarthrosis or women who are pregnant at the given time.
