Physical-technical principles of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)

Extracorporeal shock waves in orthopaedics are currently applied in the treatment of chronic enthesiopathies such as lateral epicondylitis, plantar heel spur, as well as in calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder or in bony nonunions. Detailed knowledge of physical parameters and properties of shock waves appear to be necessary to determine clinically relevant dose-effect relations and to make shock wave devices, clinical results, and basic science in shock wave therapy more comparable. This study gives an overview of physical parameters and properties in shock wave therapy. Measurement technologies, types of shock wave devices, and mechanisms of shock waves are also described.