Radial Shockwave Therapy
Therapeutic Radial Shockwaves are simply controlled pressure waves that are created when a ballistic projectile is accelerated and then impacted against a stop-plate inside a specially-designed hand-piece.
The primary effect of these shockwaves is a direct mechanical force that occurs at a cellular level as the wave’s energy passes through tissue. These waves cause a controlled impact on the tissue being treated. The result is a biological reaction within the cells of that tissue which causes an increase in blood circulation through the injured site, and triggers the body to accelerate its natural healing processes. Radial shockwave treatments increase the metabolic activity around the site of pain or discomfort. It stimulates the re-absorption of irritating calcium deposits in tendons, accelerates the body’s natural healing process, and reduces pain.
Research indicates that the mechanical stimulation produced by Shockwaves is capable of inducing positive reactive processes in the cellular structure of injured tissue. The most commonly observed reactions in tissue treated with Shockwave Therapy are:
• Increased Metabolism
• Expression of Substance P (a growth & pain mediator hormone)
• Improvement of cellular tensile stability
• Altered cell membrane permeability
• Increased cell activity by Gene Expression
• Overall improvement of cellular structure
• Re-absorption of calcium deposits in tendons
Is Radial Shockwave Therapy Effective?
Yes. Clinical research has been ongoing for decades and the published data clearly shows that Radial Shockwave Therapy is a highly effective treatment option for many musculoskeletal conditions and injuries.
Radial Shockwave Therapy works without the need for drugs, stimulates the body’s natural ability to heal itself, and in some cases can even help eliminate the need for invasive surgery.
Treatable Conditions
Radial Shockwave Therapy can be used to effectively treat;
• Tendonopathy
• Heel Spurs / Fasciitis Plantaris
• Epicondylopathy radialis /Ulnaris
• Patellofemoral Syndrome /Achillodynia
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes
• Tibialis anterior Syndrome
• Impingement Syndrome
• Trigger Point Therapy
• Bursitis
• Osteoarthritis ( spine and joints)
• Shoulder Tendinitis
• Tendon calcifications
Radial Shockwave Therapy has proven to be an effective treatment option for these conditions. It is unique in it’s ability to treat conditions which have become chronic, where other more traditional therapies or modalities have not proven effective.
Patients treated with Radial Shockwave Therapy frequently report immediate response to their treatment. Most report a significant reduction in pain and a noticeable improvement in mobility after their very first treatment.
How Long Does a Radial Shockwave Therapy Treatment Take?
Individual Shockwave Therapy treatments usually involve delivering about 2,000 Shockwave pulses or “shots” per treatment area. This takes about 5 minutes. Most conditions require between 3 and 6 treatments in total. Normally the treatment protocol recommends between 1 and 3 treatments per week. The patient’s body requires “rest & repair” time between treatments in order to allow for natural, accelerated healing.
How Long Before the Patient Reports any Improvement?
Unlike many other forms of therapy, Shockwave Therapy generates virtually immediate positive results. Even after just one treatment, patients usually report;
• A significant reduction in pain.
• Improved Mobility (range of motion).
• More normalized muscle tone.
• Muscle “knots” or tightness are usually gone or noticeably reduced & relaxed.
Research References for Shockwave Therapy
- L. Gerdesmeyer, H. Gollwitzer, P. Diehl, K. Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (rESWT) in Orthopaedics Journal für Mineralstoffwechsel, Zeitschrift für Knochen- und Gelenkerkrankungen 11/2004
- Haake M, Deike B, Thon A, Schmitt J. Importance of Accurately Focussing Extracorporeal Shock Waves in the Treatment of Calcifying Tendinitis. Fachverlag Schiele Und Schon , Berlin. 2001;46:69-74.
- BÖddeker IR, Schäfer H, Haake M. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis – A Biometrical Review. Clinical Rheumatology. Acta Medica Belgica, Brussels. 2001;20:324-330.
- A. Cacchio, L. Giordano, O. Colafarina, et al Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Therapy Compared with Surgery for Hypertrophic Long-Bone Nonunions J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2009 Nov 01;91(11):2589-2597. doi: 10.2106/JBJS.H.00841
- A. Cacchio, M. Paoloni, A. Barile, et al Effectiveness of Radial Shock-Wave Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder: Single-Blind, Randomized Clinical Study Physical Therapy May 2006 vol. 86 no. 5 672-682
- J Furia, J Rompe, A Cacchio, N Maffulli Shock wave therapy as a treatment of nonunions, avascular necrosis, and delayed healing of stress fractures Foot and ankle clinics, 2010 – Elsevier
- Jan D. Rompe, Carsten Schoellner and Bernhard Nafe Evaluation of Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Application for Treatment of Chrinic Plantar Fasciitis J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002;84:335-341.
- G. Spcca, S. Necozione, A. Cacchio Radial shock wave therapy for lateral epicondylitis: a prospective randomised controlled single-blind study Eur. Med Phy 2005, 41:17-25
- Ludger Gerdesmeyer, Carol Frey et al Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Is Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Chronic Am J Sports Med 2008 36: 2100
- Jan D. Rompe, John Furia and Nicola Maffulli Eccentric Loading Compared with Shock Wave Treatment for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy. A Randomized, Controlled Trial J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2008;90:52-61.
- Charrin Jeanne Elisabeth, Noěl Eric Robert. Shockwave Therapy Under Ultrasonographic Guidance in Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinitis. Joint Bone Spine 2001 May;68:241-4.
- Chen Han-Shiang, Chen Liang-Mei, Huang Ting-Wen. Treatment of Painful Heel Syndrome With Shock Waves. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2001 June;387:41-46.
- Crowther MA, Banniester GC, Huma H et al. A prospective randomized study to compare extracorporeal shock wave therapy and injection of steroid for the treatment of tennis elbow. Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery. Jul 2002; 84(5): 678-679.
- Daecke W, Kusniercsak D, Loew M. Long-term effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery. Sept-Oct 2002; 11(5): 476-480.
