Shock waves are acoustic disturbances created by various devices and used for treating various conditions, from chronic backache to improved movement and decreased pain levels. Shockwave therapy has proven its worth in improving patient wellness; its effects reducing pain levels while increasing movement capabilities.
Orthopedic shockwave therapy differs from lithotripsy in that instead of disintegrating stones, orthopedic shockwaves stimulate bone turnover and neovascularization for delayed fracture unions – an effective, safe, and cost-effective therapy method.
Efficacy
ESWT is a noninvasive treatment proven effective against various conditions, from musculoskeletal disorders and non-musculoskeletal diseases, to respiratory issues. The theory behind ESWT suggests it works by inducing microtrauma into injured tissues, sparking healing responses. Furthermore, shock waves increase blood flow to injured areas providing more oxygen and nutrients to injured tissues. While numerous studies have reported positive outcomes for ESWT treatments there are some limitations in research that prevent comparative results between trials; such limitations include lack of randomization/sham control groups as well as different treatment protocols which make comparing results between trials difficult.
ESWT can also be used to treat chronic pain syndromes like fibromyalgia and spondylolysis, as well as osteoarthritis of the knee. Studies have revealed that shock wave therapy improves circulation to affected regions while stimulating cell growth resulting in overall decreased pain levels. Furthermore, ESWT may help reduce swelling and inflammation as well as increase blood flow to bones or tendons by increasing blood flow or by dissolving calcium deposits from bone surfaces or tendon structures.
Side effects from treatment vary in intensity, with most being mild and lasting only a few days. Possible adverse reactions could include transient sensations of heat or pain as well as minor reddening and bruising of skin and slight reddening on occasion. Furthermore, reports have surfaced of migraine and syncope following therapy in a small number of cases.
ESWT works through various mechanisms that are interdependent on one another, including its ability to stimulate neovascularization by inducing agniogenetic growth factors that stimulate blood supply to affected areas and increase neovascularization rates. ESWT can also increase collagen synthesis for strengthening structural elements in affected regions. Furthermore, shock waves have been demonstrated to cause membrane hyperpolarization and Ras activation which leads to increased cell proliferation and differentiation towards osteo-progenitor cells.
With only limited research available to date, ESWT appears to be an effective treatment for many conditions; however, further clinical trials must be completed to ascertain if its benefits have lasting impacts on long-term outcomes of these conditions.
Safety
ESWT can be a safe and effective therapy when administered under the direction of a licensed healthcare practitioner. The therapy applies mechanical force directly to body tissues to encourage healing by increasing blood flow and metabolism – this therapy may prove especially helpful in terms of tendon damage which doesn’t receive enough blood supply and heals slowly; additionally shock waves help break up scar tissue build-up.
ESWT may last months and is particularly effective for treating patients with chronic conditions. Before using ESWT, however, it is essential to be aware of its potential risks, which include nerve damage, numbness in extremities and even heart complications; ESWT procedures usually occur under local anesthesia to lower these risks significantly.
ESWT devices deliver pulses of energy at rates up to several thousand per second that are directed toward specific parts of the body. In contrast with ultrasound therapy’s bi-phasic pattern and peak pressure of only 0.5 bar, ESWT boasts uni-phasic shock waves with 500 times greater peak pressure; this allows ESWT shock waves to penetrate deeply into tissues without disturbing nearby structures.
Shockwave therapy may cause some discomfort; its intensity depends on your injury and whether or not it involves bones. Any discomfort caused may be reduced by using topical gel on the affected area; most sessions typically last 15-20 minutes.
Healthcare professionals are increasingly turning to non-invasive, drug-free therapies as part of their practice. It can easily fit into existing treatments and may reduce referrals or surgeries while being relatively quick and cost-effective.
Recent research by Dr. Michael Bajic’s team at University of Toronto was funded by Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Results of their trial, in which participants either received weekly extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) or placebo treatments over 10 weeks, demonstrated its efficacy over placebo treatment. Its success was also published in Sexual Medicine magazine.
Side effects
Shock wave therapy is an innovative noninvasive solution to chronic muscle and ligament pain caused by damage. This form of therapy releases growth factors, accelerates tissue repair and promotes blood circulation to target areas. Furthermore, shock wave therapy is more cost-effective compared to traditional options like steroid injections or surgery while simultaneously decreasing both work and social costs by eliminating limitations to activities.
Shockwave therapy utilizes multiple shock waves – up to several thousand at once – targeted directly onto an area in need of treatment, with their power adjustable for maximum benefit without harming surrounding tissues. Local anesthesia may be administered before treatment begins for maximum comfort during this procedure that involves no downtime and provides painless results in most patients within days.
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have proven the efficacy of shockwave therapy through rigorous randomized studies, which have demonstrated its positive influence on functional outcomes such as pain reduction, swelling reduction and increased range of motion in joints. When evaluating shockwave therapy’s effectiveness it’s essential that several key factors be taken into account including using sham control groups, blinding methods as well as objective and standard evaluation protocols to ensure consistent results across studies.
ESWT has proven effective for treating various musculoskeletal conditions, yet its use to treat calcific tendonitis remains controversial. A recent meta-analysis conducted by Verstraelen and colleagues examined high energy ESWT against low energy ESWT for treating shoulder tendinitis, and discovered that higher energy levels are associated with better outcomes – however this finding needs further validation.
ESWT may cause side effects that include transient pain, swelling and bruising in the treated area. These side effects arise when shockwaves strike the injured area causing microtrauma that triggers a healing response; similar to what occurs during lithotripsy but much less severe and doesn’t harm nearby tissues.
Shockwave therapy remains a viable strategy for managing chronic joint and muscle pain, though not as widely utilized as ultrasound or electrical stimulation; its usage has increased steadily over time.
Cost
Shock wave therapy is currently used in numerous fields including orthopaedics, kidney stone dissolution (lithotripsy), as well as treating certain men’s health conditions like chronic prostatitis and Peyronie’s disease. Studies have also demonstrated that low energy extracorporeal shock wave treatments can strengthen penile erections for those experiencing declining erectile function due to narrowed blood vessels in their penis; it appears this therapy works by encouraging stem cells to migrate towards these areas while opening new small blood vessels in this region – with results often improving erection strength for these individuals with declining erectile dysfunction due to narrowed blood vessel narrowing.
High energy ESWT was once an expensive treatment option, both for physicians and insurance companies alike, due to the multiple sessions required and often special anesthesia or intravenous sedation needed during each. Now, thanks to radial technology that uses dispersive pressure waves instead of focused energy, its costs have drastically declined – these devices can now be purchased by physicians at a fraction of its original price for use with local anesthetic for faster results, making ESWT much more cost effective and patient friendly than before.
LiSWT may provide more effective treatment of erectile dysfunction because its laser penetrates more deeply, and targeting specific vascular structures of the prostate or penis more specifically than ESWT does. As such, researchers should carefully review any studies using specific devices or protocols before drawing any definitive conclusions about their effectiveness.
As more urologists recognize its advantages for treating erectile dysfunction, more will offer low energy extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). Patients should avoid treatments provided by non-physicians; it is wise to visit a doctor experienced with ESWT to ensure their device and therapy are used appropriately.
