What is shock wave therapy?

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy – ESWT for short – is a proven treatment method that is used in various medical fields. It offers numerous benefits and can help with a wide range of complaints. This introduction to shock wave therapy is intended to help you understand the differences between radial and focused shock wave therapy.

In radial shock wave therapy, the shock waves propagate in the form of a spherical wave, covering a larger treatment area. This leads to a distribution of energy over the treated area. In contrast, with focused shock wave therapy, the shock waves are concentrated in a small area, resulting in a higher energy density in this specific point. This allows the energy to be concentrated on deeper or more precise treatment areas.

The benefits of shock wave therapy include pain relief, stimulation of blood circulation and acceleration of the healing process. It can be used for both acute and chronic complaints and is an alternative to invasive treatment methods.

Shock wave therapy can be used for various conditions such as heel spur, tennis elbow, shoulder pain or muscle tension. It is important to seek advice from a specialist before starting treatment in order to choose the best individual form of therapy.

When used correctly, shock wave therapy is an effective treatment method with few side effects that can help many patients to improve their complaints.

Shock waves are high-energy, audible sound waves. They are characterised by a rapid increase in pressure and a short pulse length. They occur in our everyday lives, for example, when aircraft break the sound barrier.

Shock waves have been used in medicine since 1980. Originally, the then-new procedure was introduced to remove kidney and gall stones without surgery – which was successful and revolutionised the treatment of these complaints. The second area of application was the treatment of poorly healing bone fractures, so-called pseudarthroses.

Due to these successes, more and more research was done on the effect of shock waves on the human body. Subsequently, it was quickly discovered that the procedure is also suitable for the treatment of numerous painful diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Since the beginning of the 1990s, this area of application has become increasingly important and has since proven its worth, including in top international sport.

Shock wave therapy is a non-invasive treatment method that is used for various musculoskeletal complaints, i.e. disorders affecting the muscles, bones, joints, nerves, tendons, or ligaments. 

The targeted application of high-energy shock waves can alleviate pain and accelerate the healing of injuries. There are two types of shock waves: radial and focused shock waves. 

The benefits of shock wave therapy are manifold. In addition to relieving pain and accelerating healing, it can also reduce inflammation, improve blood circulation and increase the mobility of the affected area. Furthermore, the treatment generally has hardly any side effects. The targeted application of sound waves can relieve pain and speed up recovery.

However, it is important to understand the differences between radial and focused shock waves in order to choose the right treatment for the specific problem.

Today, doctors use shock wave therapy to treat common orthopaedic medical conditions such as frozen shoulder, tennis elbow, achillodynia, patellar tip syndrome and heel pain in plantar fasciitis. Depending on the indication, focused or radial shock waves (or both) are used. 

Shock waves have been used in medicine since 1980. Originally, the then-new procedure was introduced to remove kidney and gall stones without surgery – which was successful and revolutionised the treatment of these complaints. The second area of application was the treatment of poorly healing bone fractures, so-called pseudarthroses.

Due to these successes, more and more research was done on the effect of shock waves on the human body. Subsequently, it was quickly discovered that the procedure is also suitable for the treatment of numerous painful diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Since the beginning of the 1990s, this area of application has become increasingly important and has since proven its worth, including in top international sport.

Today, doctors use shock wave therapy to treat common orthopaedic medical conditions such as calcific shoulder, tennis elbow, achillodynia, patellar tip syndrome and heel spur. 

Depending on the indication, focused or radial shock waves (or both) are used. Shock wave therapy offers several advantages over conventional treatment methods. For one, it is non-invasive, which means that no surgery is required. 

This reduces the risk of complications and shortens the recovery time for the patient. In addition, shock wave therapy is performed on an outpatient basis, which avoids hospital stays.

Shock wave therapy has gained popularity in recent years and is appreciated by doctors and patients alike. With its numerous benefits and effectiveness in the treatment of various conditions, shock wave therapy remains a promising treatment option for the future.