Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy or shockwave ultrasound therapy (as it has erroneously prevailed as a term in Greece)
is an innovative and highly effective therapy in musculoskeletal orthopedic rehabilitation and sports medicine.
Diseases where shockwave therapy is effective:
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- Chronic tendon diseases – tendinitis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis of the shoulder muscles
- Patellar tendinitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Tennis elbow (epicondylitis)
- Calcific tendinitis
- Trochanteritis
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Myofascial pain syndrome & trigger points
- Primary and secondary lymphedema
- Osgood-Schlatter syndrome
- Shin Splint Syndrome
- Acute and chronic soft tissue lesions (including diabetic foot ulcer)
- Cellulite
We are pleased to have the Swiss Shockwave Device, the only Medical FDA certified in the United States.
Swiss DolorClast® Master Touch
- It is the first and only device in the world that has a high pressure air converter Vs (EFD). This option automatically calculates the EFD output (in mJ/mm²), i.e. the amount of energy we transfer to the target tissue of the area being treated.
- For the first time in a shockwave therapy record, we can use this device to determine the treatment protocols according to the amount of energy we provide directly to the patient. Thanks to the patented system, the new EVO BLUE piston reveals unprecedented energy levels at all frequencies. This device provides constant power at energy flow density (EFD) throughout the frequency range.
How many shockwave sessions are needed to treat a condition?
Understandably, due to the complexity of a musculoskeletal problem, it is difficult to pinpoint the number of sessions required. On average, however, 3 sessions are enough to treat even a chronic pain symptom in the aforementioned conditions.
What determines the effectiveness of shockwave therapy?
The effectiveness of the shockwave method depends on 3 factors:
- Accurate diagnosis of the problem
- Therapist’s scientific knowledge on the shockwave therapy method with the aim of its perfect application.
The amount of energy that needs to be transferred to the tissues, the frequency of shocks, the number of shocks and the intervals needed between each session are what will determine the outcome of the treatment. This is achieved through full knowledge of recent articles in any pathology. No machine that has treatment protocols accurately implements the parameters defined in the international articles, so it is up to the therapist’s cognitive background to define the correct treatment parameters individually in each case. The amount of energy, frequency and impacts depend on the target tissue being treated (the tendon, the muscles and the bone, each one of them need different energy).
- The device used to transmit shockwaves
The technology that supports the device is a key factor in the effectiveness of shockwave therapy. The phenomenon of cavitation is the necessary requirement for the treatment to be effective. In those devices where the phenomenon of cavitation does not occur, they do not function as shockwave therapy, but as massage devices. Also, the definition of the amount of energy transferred to the treated tissue does not occur in any other shock wave device on the market. How is it possible to define bars therapy if the treatment involves energy transfer (mJ/mm²)?
Mechanisms of action of shock wave therapy
The use of shock wave therapy causes the following cellular changes:
- Immediate pain relief through overstimulation mechanisms, reduction of substance P and the peptide associated with the calcitonin gene.
- Angiogenesis, through the increased prevalence of vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nuclear cell proliferation antigen.
- Immediate increase in interleukin-6 and interleukin-8. A fivefold increase in intercellular substance of metalloproteinase 2 and 5. All these substances are closely related to the homeostasis of tendons, the activity of fibroblasts and the destruction of pathological tissues. In conclusion, it is estimated that shockwaves have a pro-inflammatory effect.
- Positive effects are caused on bone health by reducing osteoclast activity and stimulating osteoblast activity.
- Long-term pain relief through the selective destruction of demyelinated nerve fibers.
What is the difference between shockwaves and ultrasound (Why is the Greek term shockwave ultrasound wrong)?
Ultrasound waves are described as oscillations and therefore have a very different pressure profile compared to shockwaves. Shockwaves produce much higher pressures resulting in a natural effect on the medium through which they pass. This means that shockwaves are very effective in transferring energy from one point to another.