Is shock wave therapy harmful?

Treatment in which acoustic waves are used is called shock wave therapy, or UHT. Initially, the method was used to crush stones in urolithiasis.

All about the benefits and harms of the shock wave therapy method

Medical technology has proven itself well in solving a number of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system. It is also prescribed during rehabilitation after injuries and operations on musculoskeletal tissues. And in some cases (with coronary stenting and aortocoronary shunting), physiotherapy allows you to avoid surgery.

With a lot of obvious advantages, shock wave therapy has a number of contraindications. In order to understand who UVT is not suitable for, it is necessary to understand its nature.

 
UHT principle

The essence of the UHT methodology is focused on the penetration of acoustic pulses into soft and musculoskeletal tissues with the help of a special device. 

 
Results of impact:

• improvement of blood and lymph circulation;
• decrease in muscle tone in the affected area (complete relaxation);
• destruction of non-pathological bone growths and salt deposits.

Modern medicine uses the following types of physiotherapy:

• radial (with weak pulses and effectiveness for minor shocks and arthrosis);
• planar (using pulses of medium power);
• focused (prescribed for intensive therapy of pathologies accompanied by severe pain).

 
Indications and contraindications for UCT

Physioprocedures are prescribed exclusively by a doctor based on the results of a comprehensive examination.

 
Medical indications for UHT:

• arthritis;
• gout;
• arthrosis;
• bone on legs;
• osteochondrosis;
• pathologies of the ligamentous apparatus;
• bursitis;
• epicondylitis;
• myofascial syndrome;
• tendinitis;
• intervertebral hernia;
• flat feet;
• slow healing of fractures;
• sports injuries, etc.

Advantages of therapy: gentle effect on tissues, no hospitalization, and no recovery period.

The technique gained particular popularity in the treatment of heel spur diagnosed in the early stages of development. If physiotherapy is used for acute inflammatory diseases of the musculoskeletal system, after the second procedure it is noted:

• reduction of puffiness;
• absence of pain;
• improvement of motility of joints.

The impact of impulses on the body is quite powerful, therefore, along with the recommendations for conducting shock wave therapy, there are a number of contraindications.

As a method of treatment, shock wave therapy sessions are not performed for:

• pregnancy;
• diagnosis of neoplasms (both malignant and benign, regardless of localization);
• severe form of diabetes;
• problems related to blood coagulation;
• exacerbations of infectious diseases, etc.

Indications as well as contraindications to the technique of shock wave therapy must be taken into account in pediatrics. Acoustic impulses have a negative effect on the growth of bone-cartilaginous tissue, therefore, in children, UCT can slow down, or even stop, the process of skeleton formation.

Duration of treatment

How many sessions with the use of shock wave therapy should be carried out is determined by the rehabilitation doctor, based on the individual indicators of each medical case. On average, the UHT session lasts 10-15 minutes. The course of treatment, for example, of a heel spur is 5 sessions with breaks of 5-6 days.

Already after the first exposure to impulses, the symptoms of the disease lose their intensity. So, for example, one reception of extracorporeal UCT of the knee joint guarantees a decrease in swelling and a decrease in pain. According to the results of three sessions, the patient can forget about diseases for a long time.

Treatment with shock wave therapy of osteochondrosis (if there are no contraindications) involves 3-4 sessions every 5-7 days. Pain sensations in the affected area may increase after the first time, which is explained by the exacerbation of symptoms as a result of exposure to acoustic waves, but after 2-3 days the discomfort will completely disappear.

The method of shock wave therapy is characterized by high tolerance, duration of effect and compatibility with other types of treatment. The UCT course can be completed both in a hospital and as an outpatient in a clinic, for example, as part of rehabilitation.