Acoustic Soundwave also known as shockwave is a non-invasive treatment that involves creating a series of low energy acoustic wave pulsations that are directly applied through a person’s skin. The concept and technology originally evolved from the discovery that focused sound waves were capable of breaking down kidney and gallstones.
Generated shockwaves have proven successful in a number of scientific studies for the treatment of chronic conditions.
Shockwave therapy is a modern and highly effective treatment option in orthopaedic and rehabilitation medicine. The term shockwave refers to mechanical pressure pulses that expand as a wave in the body. In modern pain therapy, shockwave energy is conducted from the point of origin to the painful body regions, where it applies its healing capacities.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) was first introduced into clinical practice back in 1980 as a treatment for non-invasive lithotripsy. However, in the last two decades, it has been used as a method for musculoskeletal disorders and the stimulation of bone growth. Thus, the shock waves are used for the treatment of various orthopedic conditions including plantar fasciitis, shoulder tendinopathy, elbow tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy and Achilles tendinopathy.
Recently, shockwave treatment has been extended to treat other conditions, including femoral head necrosis, patellar knee jaw, osteochondritis and calcified shoulder tendonitis.
Acoustic Soundwave shockwaves are high energy sound waves produced under water with a high voltage explosion and evaporation. In the case of lithotripsy, shock waves are used to dissolve nephrolithiasis while in orthopedic cases they are used to induce neovascularisation at the junction of the tendon-bone and the release of growth factors such as eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase), VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and PCNA (proliferating cell antinuclear antigen).
Subsequently, these lead to the improvement of the blood supply and to an increase in cell proliferation and ultimately to the tissue regeneration of tendons and bones for tissue repair.
Shockwave treatment is a relatively new non-invasive therapeutic intervention, without the dangers of a surgical procedure and postoperative pain.