Shock Wave Therapy

Shock wave therapy is becoming increasingly important in orthopedic medicine for the treatment of a wide variety of conditions. Initially used primarily for the treatment of calcific tendonitis, it is now applied to many other physical pain conditions, often in the form of so-called trigger point therapy.

The line between therapeutic success and failure is thin and certainly depends on many factors. One of the most important and most easily influenced factors for success is certainly the competence and diligence of the therapist. A quick, "cowboy-style" approach is certainly the wrong path to achieving the desired therapeutic success.

When using shock wave therapy, the user must have excellent anatomical knowledge. Before each treatment, the therapist must have a clear idea of ​​which anatomical structure they wish to treat and also locate it. For this purpose, a manual examination or, better still, an ultrasound examination is required. This preparation is essential before any shock wave application. This is the only way to prevent injury to nerves or blood vessels and to ensure the intended therapeutic target area is reached. It certainly goes without saying that if the shock wave misses the target due to incorrect pre-planning or superficial execution, the desired treatment outcome will not be achieved.

For this reason, shock waves should only be used by well-trained physicians. Focused shock wave therapy, which uses high energies, has clear regulations. This may only be performed by the physician personally. Focused shock wave therapy is considered a medical therapeutic procedure and, by law, cannot be delegated to medical assistants. Unfortunately, we often hear that focused shock wave therapy is not performed by physicians but by assistants. This is certainly not permissible, does not promote therapeutic success, and may even be dangerous.