Abstract

This article aims at presenting current knowledge about shock wave therapy and especially analysing the results of research on the influence of focused and radial shock wave in the treatment of pseudarthrosis, tendinosis calcarea of the shoulder, calcanean spurs, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis and enthesitis, etc. Orthopaedics and physiotherapy have been using focused shock wave therapy for two decades now, but radial shock wave therapy has a history of only several years. As a consequence, there is a dearth of studies corroborating the thera-peutic efficacy of this method, although the available results are very encouraging. Most studies concentrate on presenting the effects of focused shock wave in the treatment of pseudarthrosis, where the shock wave impact is purely destructive. In other conditions, the mechanism of action of both focused and radial shock wave is obscure, although the procedures are very effective. Because the only alternative available to many patients, especially those with tendinosis calcarea of the shoulder and calcanean spurs, is a surgical procedure, the application of shock wave, a low-invasive and highly effective method, is fully justified.

Key words:

focused shock wave, radial shock wave, physiotherapy