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EXTRA CORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a new, fast and effective non-surgical method of eliminating or reducing many painful musculoskeletal conditions.

Shockwaves are acoustic wave energy that can be broadcast over long distances; for example, a jet breaking the sound barrier creates a very loud bang in the sky, which shakes the glasses in home.

ESWT technology delivers pneumatically generated high-pressure acoustic waves, which travel through the skin to the affected area of the body eliminating painful calcium deposits that can interfere with healing. ESWT stimulates the body’s immune system and promotes angiogenesis (new blood vessel growth). The increase in blood flow to the injured area delivers more repair factors. It also increases growth of lymph vessels.

Advantages of ESWT are avoidance of surgeries, safety and effectiveness.

A BRIEF HISTORY OF EXTRA CORPOREAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

During World War II observations were made of castaways in the water following depth charged explosions. Their lifeless bodies showed no outward signs of injury, yet autopsies revealed heavy damage to the lungs. This was eventually attributed to the shock waves created by the explosion.

In the 1950’s shock waves were demonstrated to break ceramic dishes under water.

In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s tests began on the interaction between shock waves and the biological tissue in animals. The results revealed low side effects traveling through muscle, fat, connective tissue and intact bone.

This lead to medical applications in humans allowing physicians to disintegrate kidney stones and later gallstones.

Today the first treatment of choice for kidney and urethral stones is Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy.

In the past 20 years other applications of ESWT have been considered and studied. It was found that ESWT had osteogenetic properties that stimulated bone fracture healing.

In the mid 1990’s ESWT was being used successfully on tendonitis calcarea (calcium deposits in damage tendons), epicondylitis and heel spurs all of which are now excepted as scientifically proven methods of treatment for these conditions.

Recent studies have shown great success and promise for the treatment of avascular necrosis of the head of the femur, Osteochondriasis dissecans, patella tendonitis as well as achilles tendonitis.

ESWT has been shown to have bactericidal properties. Due to the bactericidal effects of ESWT along with neovascularization, ESWT is increasingly being used in wound healing of neuropathic foot ulcers associated with diabetes.

TREATMENTS AVAILABLE THOROUGH OUR OFFICE

Foot and Ankle: Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles, Tendonitis, Mortons Neuroma, Chronic pain following ankle sprains, Difficult healing bone fractures (delayed and non-union). Pain associated with Chronic Hallux limitus ♦ Wound healing ulcer foot.
-No Referral Necessary-

Treatments for other areas of injury will become available in the near future through our staff nurse (presently in training).

These treatments will require a referral from your physician:

Tennis/Golfers elbow
Shoulder (Calcific tendinosis)
Knee ligament, tendon insertion (Osgood- Shlatter disease)
Lower leg (Shin splints)
Upper leg (Illiotibial Band Syndrome)
Bones Delayed of Non Unions above the ankle.

Sources: International Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave Therapy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: Clinical Results, Technologies, Basics
Ludger Gerdesmeyer Lowell Scott Weil