In the Garden of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, Not Everything is Roses

Review Article | Volume 3 | Issue 1 | JRS Jun – June 2023 | Page 18-21 | Achim M. Loske
DOI: 10.13107/jrs.2023.v03.i01.075

Author: Achim M. Loske 

[1] Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Juriquilla, Querétaro, México.

Address of Correspondence
Dr. Achim M Loske,
Centro de Física Aplicada y Tecnología Avanzada, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México,
Blvd. Juriquilla 3001, Querétaro, Qro., 76230 México.
E-mail: loske@fata.unam.mx

Abstract

The popularity of extracorporeal shock wave therapy to treat a large variety of medical conditions is indisputable. Despite this, sometimes poor results are obtained, and mild to severe complications have been reported. In most cases, wrong information and lack of training are responsible for this. The objective of this article is to explain the potential danger of using shock waves and radial pressure waves, as well as the reasons why, from the point of view of physics, sometimes the outcome is not as expected.

Keywords: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy, Shock waves, Radial pressure waves, Interaction with matter, Acoustic cavitation.

References:

1. International Society for Medical Shockwave Therapy. Introduction and Prerequisites and Minimal Standards of Performing ESWT. Available from: https://www.shockwavetherapy.org/about-eswt/indications
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