Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT)—also known as acoustic compression, myotripsy, and/or shockwave therapy has rapidly become the gold standard for several indications.
The term shock wave refers to mechanical pressure pulses that expand as a wave in the body. Shockwave is an acoustic wave which carries high energy to painful spots and myoskeletal tissues with subacute, subchronic and chronic conditions. The energy promotes regeneration and reparative processes of the bones, tendons and other soft tissues. It is used for the treatment of chronic, calcified, mineralized, and fibrotic tissue stemming from longstanding trauma.
Medical Devices for extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) are mainly used in physical therapy, orthopedics, sports medicine, pain therapy, wound healing, urology and cardiology.
Shock wave Therapy in Physical Therapy and Orthopedics
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is used in orthopedics to treat a growing number of tendon, joint and muscle conditions. Patients report after extracorporeal shockwave therapy about reduced pain and faster healing, without significant adverse side effects. In orthopedics, shockwave devices are used to promote regeneration and tissue repair.
Typical indications are:
- tennis elbow
- shoulder tendonitis
- knee, heel and achilles trauma
- degenerative disorders
ESWT is as well used to improve bone healing and treat bone necrosis. It is an effective alternative to surgical treatment of non-healing fractures.
Pain Therapy
In modern pain therapy, shockwave energy is conducted from the point of origin to the painful body regions, where it applies its healing capacities.
Shockwave Therapy in Wound Healing
Shockwave therapy has shown positive results in short-term and long-term outcomes in healing of chronic wounds, e.g. diabetic patients suffering from foot ulcers.
ESWT in Urology
Shock wave therapy has been successfully used in urology for around three decades. Relatively new (since 2010) is the use of shockwaves in urology, to treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome and erectile dysfunction. Unlike drugs, shockwave therapy is non-invasive, does not have side effects, and improves long-term healing.
Lithotripsy as special Form of Shock wave Therapy in Urology
Similar technology using focused higher energies is used to break up kidney and gallstones, and is termed lithotripsy.
Shock wave Therapy in Cardiology
Angina (Chest pains associated with heart disease) has been treated successfully with extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Clinical studies could demonstrate that shock waves promote the growth of new blood vessels or revascularization.
Lithoplasty achieved better results than stenting, with a 23% average residual stenosis rate. In addition, by cracking the calcium, which prevented the normal pulsatile function in vessels, Shockwave also demonstrated that Lithoplasty restored that important physiologic function.
Market Analysis for Shock wave Therapy Device Market
The market analysis of the shock wave therapy device market shows a segmentation by product type, technology, end-user.
Shock wave Therapy Device Market by Product Type
Segments of shock wave therapy market by type of product are:
- mobile shock wave therapy devices
- fixed shock wave therapy devices
Shockwave Therapy Device Market by Technology
Based on technology the market has been segmented into four types:
- electromagnetic technique
- electrohydraulic technique
- piezoelectric technique
- radial technique
Electromagnetic shockwave technology produces a strong magnetic field by electric current passing through the coil, and the subsequent compression of fluid generates the shockwave.
Electrohydraulic shockwave devices are high-energy acoustic wave devices generating under water explosions with high voltage electrodes. In lithotripsy (urology), shockwave therapy is primarily used to disintegrate urolithiasis
In the piezoelectric technique, a high voltage current is applied piezo crystals induces shockwave by deforming the crystals.
Radial shockwave technique has other than the three techniques before, a focal point with direct device-skin interface. It is spread from the top of the radial device in megaphone fashion.
End User and customers for Shockwave Therapy Devices
Shock wave therapy equipment are used by following segments:
- Hospitals
- physiotherapy
- ambulatory care
- radiology labs
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