How can Shockwave Therapy help you?

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves applied directly to the injured area of ​​the body. These waves penetrate the tissues and promote mechanical and biological stimuli that favor tissue regeneration, increase local vascularization, and reduce inflammation and pain.

Origin and evolution of the technique

Although widely applied today in Orthopedics and Traumatology, the use of shock waves began in Urology to fragment kidney stones. From the late 1980s onwards, the technique was adapted to treat musculoskeletal injuries, tendinopathies, and fasciopathies, becoming an effective option for problems that do not respond to conventional treatments.

Who is this therapy suitable for?

Shockwave therapy can be useful in various orthopedic and musculoskeletal conditions, especially chronic or slow-healing injuries, such as:

• Tendinitis and tendinopathies (such as calcific tendinitis, jumper's knee, and Achilles tendonitis);

• Lateral and medial epicondylitis (tennis or golfer's elbow);

• Plantar fasciopathy;

• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip);

• Chronic muscle injuries and myofascial trigger points;

• Slow-healing wounds or ulcers;

• Delayed consolidation fractures or pseudoarthrosis.

  
  

Benefits of shockwave therapy

• Pain relief and improved function, often in the first few sessions;

• Stimulation of tissue regeneration, accelerating healing;

• Modulation of inflammation;

• Minimally invasive alternative, avoiding surgery and long periods of absence;

• Possibility of a faster return to daily and sporting activities.

How is the treatment done?

Typically, the protocol involves 3 to 5 sessions, with weekly intervals, individualized according to the injury and the patient's clinical response. The use of devices with specific tips allows adjusting the intensity and focus of the waves for each case, always after a detailed medical evaluation.

During the session, the patient may feel discomfort at the application site, and the area may be reddened immediately after the treatment. The result can be observed immediately, with the patient perceiving an improvement in pain, but the response to treatment is usually evaluated about 3 months after the sessions.