The evolving use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in managing musculoskeletal and neurological diagnoses

Feb. 04, 2022

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is the transcutaneous application of high-energy acoustic waves to break down tissue or to promote healing and repair. Focused ESWT involves the application of acoustic waves transmitted in a narrow or focused pattern. First used in the early 1980s, this type of ESWT emerged as a noninvasive treatment known as lithotripsy to eliminate kidney stones. In the decades that followed the advent of lithotripsy, researchers began to examine other potential clinical applications for focused ESWT and another form of shock wave therapy known as radial ESWT. In contrast to focused ESWT, radial ESWT acoustic waves are transmitted in a more diffuse, radial pattern.

As interest in these modalities grew, researchers began exploring their therapeutic potential. During the 1990s and early 2000s, numerous research teams shared findings suggesting that ESWT could be used as a therapeutic tool. Researchers demonstrated the use of ESWT to reduce pain and promote healing in bone, tendon, ligament and fascia in patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and to reduce spasticity in patients with neurological disorders.

In this article, Michael C. Wainberg, M.D., discusses the potential uses of ESWT for patients in the physical medicine and rehabilitation setting. Dr. Wainberg is a physiatrist at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota. His research interests include musculoskeletal disorders and spasticity.

"The interest in ESWT among physiatrists is expanding rapidly," notes Dr. Wainberg. "Our colleagues at Mayo Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Minneapolis are currently using radial shock wave therapy to treat patients with musculoskeletal disorders, and physiatrists at Mayo Clinic's campus in Rochester, Minnesota, are providing this treatment to patients with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders as well," Dr. Wainberg. "Radial ESWT is currently being used as a therapeutic tool to promote healing and reduce pain in patients with a variety of musculoskeletal and neurological diagnoses. We are seeing a role for it in treating tendinopathies and in promoting healing in bone defects and fractures, both delayed and nonunion."

How radial ESWT works

Compressed air accelerates a projectile up to 80 to 90 kph within a guiding tube that strikes a metal applicator placed on the patient's skin. The kinetic energy is converted into a radial shock wave. The projectile generates stress waves in the applicator that transmit pressure waves into tissue to a depth of 4 to 5 cm.

The evolving list of diagnoses for which ESWT shows potential includes:

Shoulder tendinopathy
Lateral epicondylosis*/epicondylitis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Hamstring tendinopathy
Patellar tendinopathy
Medial tibial stress syndrome
Achilles tendinopathy
Plantar fasciitis*
Knee osteoarthritis
Fracture nonunion
Spasticity of spinal and supraspinal origin (stroke, brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy)

*Device approved by the FDA but not covered by most insurance plans

Dr. Wainberg notes that multiple published studies have examined the use of ESWT in patients with musculoskeletal disorders and spasticity related to neurological diagnoses. A study published in Europa Medicophysica in March 2005 concluded that patients with lateral epicondylitis refractory to conservative care who were treated with radial ESWT experienced a decrease in pain and functional impairment and an increase in the pain-free grip strength test. A study published in the November 2017 issue of the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases demonstrated encouraging results when testing the use of ESWT in patients with spasticity related to stroke. ESWT also reduced spasticity related to multiple sclerosis according to studies published in Multiple Sclerosis Journal in April 2015 and Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in November 2018.

"Thus far, the available data for ESWT are promising," says Dr. Wainberg. "Further studies are needed to identify the mechanism or mechanisms of action, optimal shock wave characteristics and appropriate dosing for this form of treatment. That research will help define treatment protocols and guidelines for target populations."

Adverse events and contraindications

According to Dr. Wainberg, the list of adverse effects (AEs) associated with ESWT is fairly short. Mild AEs include transient discomfort, skin erythema and localized swelling. More-severe but exceptionally rare AEs include Achilles tendon rupture, humeral head osteonecrosis (after focused ESWT) and calcaneal stress-type fracture (presumed after focused ESWT).

Contraindications or situations in which ESWT may be inappropriate include: