The shockwave device enables to generate pulses that let tissue to be penetrated by the shock wave with healing properties. Using a properly selected wave transmitter, the physiotherapist can perform trigger point therapy (10-mm transmitter), larger joints (15-mm transmitter), stimulate muscles (20-mm transmitter), or perform treatments to reduce cellulite (35-mm transmitter). The shockwave propagates in the tissues radially, enabling treatment of both surface-located diseases and pathological processes located in deeper tissues (15-mm titanium transmitter). During the treatment, the device’s gun-shaped applicator transmits an average of 4,000 shokes, depending on the type of injury.

The use of the shockwave allows stimulation of selected areas of the body, as well as in the case of devices generating a compressor pressure above 3.5 bar, treatment of disease entities in which a chronic calcification process occurs. An example of a degenerative change in which the shockwave treatment brings excellent results is the so-called “calcaneal spur”. The shockwave therapy allows for the treatment of chronic pain and discomfort connected with degeneration and inflammation of the tendons, muscles, bones, joint capsules and ligaments. Its special properties are used to treat athletes’ injuries. The shockwave, by hiperstimulation of nerve endings and cell membranes, blocks pain signals, which allows to completely eliminate pain. The positive effects of therapy allow to stop taking painkillers, and often avoid having to undergo surgery.

The effectiveness of shockwave therapy has been clinically confirmed. Therapeutic treatments related to the penetration of tissues by the shockwave bring benefits in the form of:

• better tissue blood supply – increased microcirculation and metabolism

• reduced muscle tone – relaxing effect

• anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect – permanent therapeutic effect

• tissue regeneration – scar reduction, increased collagen production

• disintegration of calcifications – non-invasive treatment of degenerative diseases

Usually 3-4 treatments carried out at an interval of one week allow to achieve the desired effect of therapy. Importantly, the therapeutic results are long-lasting, and the treatment itself does not require anaesthesia.

Shockwave therapy brings satisfying results in the treatment of the following diseases:

• Plantar fasciitis

• Inflammation of the lateral epicondyle of the humeral – tennis / golfer’s elbow

• Painful shoulder syndrome

• Patellar tendonitis – jumper’s knee

• Inflammation and achilles tendon pain

• Calcaneal spur (lower and upper)

• Anterior tibial syndrome

• Overload and degenerative changes

• Muscle tension, trigger points

• Trochanteric bursitis

• Tendinopathies and rotator cuff injury – tendon lesions

• Chronic enthesopathies

• Iliotibial band syndrome

  Treatments using the positive effect of a shockwave on the musculoskeletal system are currently one of the most popular forms of therapy used in physiotherapy centers. The first shockwave therapy devices had a different construction and produced a focused wave. Kidney stones were broken with them. Effective interaction of these devices has also been observed in the field of physical therapy.
   
  The focused wave is characterized by the high local energy. The change in the method of wave generation led to the creation of a device for radial shockwave therapy (RSWT), which turned out to be much less invasive, and at the same time effective in physical therapy. To ensure proper wave transmission from the transmitter to the body, it is necessary to use a coupling medium. It is usually a gel. Currently manufactured devices are often eqipped with built-in encyclopedia of treatment programs. The physiotherapist selects the most appropriate treatment parameters or chooses one of the predefined treatment programs created to achieve the best possible therapy results.