Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a regenerative therapy that uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. Originally used to break down kidney stones in humans, ESWT has found considerable success in veterinary rehabilitation of musculoskeletal injuries, stimulating healing and providing pain relief in a wide variety of cases.
What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy?
Contrary to the name, shockwaves are not electro-shocks. ESWT is a non-invasive treatment in which rapid high-energy, low-frequency, short-duration pressure waves are delivered across the skin surface into deeper tissues. ESWT stimulates healing by increasing blood flow, cytokines, and growth factors within the targeted tissue. A natural healing cascade is initiated, resulting in decreased inflammation, activation of stem cells, new vessel formation, and tissue growth. This therapy may also reduce the degradation of cartilage and encourage the rebuilding of subchondral bone within joints. ESWT provides pain relief by inhibiting nerve signals and stimulating the release of serotonin.
Applications of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Rehabilitation
ESWT improves the speed and quality of healing in tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones, and wounds. It is useful in both acute and chronic, non-healing conditions. Some of the most common uses for small animals and horses include:
Wounds (acute, chronic / delayed-healing)
Tendon and ligament injuries (acute and chronic)
Fractures and osteotomies (acute and chronic / delayed-healing, after injury or surgery (ie. TPLO))
Bone bruises
Osteoarthritis
Intervertebral disc disease
Hip and elbow dysplasia
Neck and back pain
Muscle pain and trigger points
Benefits of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy:
Non-Invasive: ESWT is not invasive.
Stimulation of Healing: ESWT can stimulate the healing of multiple types of tissues on the cellular level.
Accelerated Recovery: Recovery time after injury or surgery is often shortened. Animals may show improvement after the first session.
Pain Relief: ESWT provides pain relief in a variety of types of injury.
No Time Off: There is no recovery time after ESWT, only from the injury itself.
Ease of Therapy Administration: Most animals tolerate ESWT well and often do not need sedation with modern (quieter) units. Typically a series of three sessions is recommended -- a few weeks apart -- and each session takes about 10 minutes.
Combines Well with Other Therapies: ESWT can be used in conjunction with many other treatment modalities.
Enhances Effects of PRP and Stem Cell Therapy: ESWT works synergistically with platelet rich plasma and stem cell therapies leading to improved tissue healing response.
Wide Range of Eligible Patients: EWST can be used in a wide variety of patients and conditions, including aging animals or animals with pre-existing conditions that are not good candidates for surgery. It can be used on acute and chronic, non-healing injuries.
Low Risk of Complications: Side effects are rare after ESWT and are limited to mild bruising or temporary tingling at the site of treatment.
Contraindications and Considerations
Contraindicated for use near the brain, lungs, and uterus during pregnancy.
Contraindicated for use on or near malignant tumors.
Contraindicated for patients with bleeding disorders.
Conclusion
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a non-invasive therapy aimed at stimulating the body’s own healing and regenerative mechanisms. It is ideal in that it can be used in both relatively acute injuries and injuries that have delayed healing or that have not responded to other treatments. It combines well with other therapies and is useful in a wide variety of tissue types. There are few contraindications. We would be happy to discuss if ESWT could be useful for your particular animal’s rehabilitation needs.