Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy ESWT is a noninvasive surgical procedure that uses sound waves to stimulate healing in some physical disorders, including plantar fasciitis. Because there is no incision, ESWT offers two main advantages over traditional surgical methods: fewer potential complications and a faster return to normal activity. ESWT has been used extensively for several years to treat plantar fasciitis and other disorders.
What is the origin of ESWT? The basic science behind ESWT, the technology that uses acoustic shockwaves. The technique of using shockwaves to break up kidney stones has been around for a nearly a quarter century now, and in the process of treating thousands and thousands of patients, it was found that many people undergoing the procedure had other unrelated aches and pains disappear.
It was at this point that scientists began to consider that shockwaves may have an effect to heal other sorts of tissues. Specialized machines were then developed specifically with the idea of using these shockwaves on other parts of the body, and this is the origin of ESWT.
The type of shockwave therapy we use, then, is specialized to specifically help treat musculoskeletal conditions. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy can be used to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditionsβparticularly those involving where major connective tissues attach to bone. This is our specialty. Some conditions in the foot that have been treated with ESWT include:.
When is ESWT considered as a treatment the above conditions? Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is generally considered when the following criteria are met: When patient has a diagnosis that is considered to be responsive to ESWT. When surgery or other more invasive treatments are alternatives. When the patient fully understands the procedure. When there are no known contraindications to the procedure. ESWT is not typically used:. With regards to wound healing, new research has shown that Electrohydraulic ESWT increases wound healing significantly.
