Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ECSWT) / (Low Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LiSWT)
Extracorporeal Shockwaves have been used successfully in Europe for over a decade for a variety of conditions, including heart disease, kidney stones and orthopedic conditions.
The technology works by accelerating a projectile in the hand piece which generates a mechanical pressure wave. This wave is transferred to the human body by an applicator head and which radiates out in the tissue. The mechanical energy is absorbed by the tissue and decreases as the distance from the application site increases. The mechanical stress causes cavitation resulting in reactions in the tissue.
The benefits of the therapy’s mechanical stimulation include: increased local blood flow, cellular activity such as the release of substance P, prostaglandin E2, NO, TGF β, VEGF, and almost certainly other inflammatory cytokines, the breakdown of calcific deposits and adhesions, and finally relaxation of connective tissue.
