Advancements in shockwave therapy have become a true alternative to surgery. This form of therapy was first devised to eliminate kidney stones, although it has been successfully used to treat bone fractures that aren’t healing properly since the late 1980’s.

Beginning in 1991, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, or ESWT, has been used to treat conditions like tendon pain and calcified shoulders instead of surgery. It can currently be used for the following orthopaedic conditions:

• Calcified shoulder
• Joint aches without calcium deposits present
• Tennis elbow
• Plantar facsiitis, also known as a heel spur
• Achilles or patella tendon inflammation
• Tendonitis
• Pseudoarthrosis

What is Shockwave Therapy?

This form of therapy uses specialized equipment to create high-energy shockwaves, which are then directed into the affected area through a membrane. The shockwave can be controlled to target specific areas using penetration depth. Shockwave therapy has many beneficial effects, as it can disperse deposits of calcium, stimulate the body’s healing mechanism and stimulate bone growth.

Shockwave Therapy Treatment

This is an outpatient treatment that is typically performed under local anesthesia. Most treatments require between 1 and 5 sessions performed over several weeks. Your doctor will decide the precise number of sessions to administer, as well as the strength, depending on your condition and patient history. Most sessions last less than 20 minutes, although sessions to treat pseudarthosis can last up to 60 minutes.

Most patients report relief from shockwave therapy, which has a 70% success rate for most patients. Recovery begins very soon after treatment and sessions may be repeated as necessary to ensure success.