They may have a name that sounds intimidating, but Shockwaves – also known as Shockwave Therapy – are actually a non-invasive form of physical therapy.
What is it about?
Shockwave therapy consists of treating a painful area with a high-energy acoustic wave that works at variable depth on the tissues it is applied to. Highly effective for treating acute pain, inflammation, tendinopathies, and calcifications, shockwave therapy requires the use of special equipment and the care and expertise of trained therapists. Two different technologies form the basis of shockwave applications in medical treatment, producing different results suitable for various conditions: focused shockwaves and radial shockwaves.
Focused waves
The first type is focused shockwaves: artificially generated by a specific machine through a sudden increase in pressure inside a water chamber. These are precise waves that penetrate deeply and must be administered by specialized medical personnel. Focused waves are indicated for treating joint and tendon bone pathologies, but can also be used for delayed bone healing, bursitis, pseudoarthrosis, adhesive capsulitis, stress fractures, and insertional tendinopathies such as scapulohumeral periarthritis.
Radial waves
Radial shockwaves, on the other hand, generate energy that disperses radially through the skin and are suitable for treating superficial muscle-tendon pathologies. They are applied using a special handpiece containing a steel “projectile,” which is launched by compressed air at 4–5 bars of pressure against a metal transducer. The collision produces a shockwave that spreads radially into the treated tissue via a metal cap. Ideal for treating chronic inflammatory conditions such as epicondylitis, epitrochleitis, and tendinopathies, radial shockwaves are very useful in treating frozen shoulder – or adhesive capsulitis – by directly targeting the inflamed capsule structures, stimulating healing and providing a truly effective anti-inflammatory effect. The treatment is also indicated for foot conditions such as heel pain, plantar fasciitis, and heel spurs.
What are the benefits of Shockwave Therapy?
It has been scientifically proven that radial shockwave therapy can:
- Stimulate neovascularization, promoting the creation of new capillaries and supporting blood circulation;
- Reduce inflammation, with anti-inflammatory action on damaged tissues;
- Reduce pain, improving pain symptoms globally;
- Reabsorb calcifications, promoting increased range of motion and strengthening treated muscles.
What are the contraindications?
There are few but clear contraindications to shockwave treatment.
Shockwave Therapy is not allowed when:
- Hollow organs like lungs or intestines, or delicate tissues like the brain, spinal cord, or gonads are in the focal area;
- There are tumor pathologies or thrombophlebitis;
- The patient is pregnant.
Shockwave Therapy is allowed but should be applied with care and caution when:
- The patient has a pacemaker;
- Cartilage in the growth phase is present in the focal area;
- Patients have coagulation disorders or blood-related diseases.
How does a session work? What’s the recommended treatment frequency?
An application lasts between 5 and 15 minutes and is performed a maximum of 1 or 2 times per week, with a few days of rest between sessions to allow the body to recover and support the healing process.
If you believe this treatment might be suitable for you, contact us!
At our center, we offer radial Shockwave Therapy with Storz electro-medical equipment, a high-quality Swiss brand, and we combine instrumental treatments with various manual therapies to best address your condition.
