Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT)
For the past 30 years, ESWT has been mostly used for urinary stone removal with good efficacy. However, recently, ESWT has been shown to be effective in pseudoarthrosis, delayed union of fracture, tenosynovitis, calcific tenosynovitis and plantar fasciitis, etc. Its application in musculoskeletal diseases continues to widen.
ESWT is a therapy that uses pressure waves generated by explosion, electric sparks, and high speed oscillation that causes powerful pressure changes in elastic materials in the gas, liquid and solid state. Clinical studies and experiments have reported that ESWT is effective in promoting tissue recovery and regeneration in wound care. The exact mechanism of action for such therapeutic effect has not been clarified but ESWT is presumed to accelerate angiogenesis, influence mesenchymal stem cells and promote cell proliferation and differentiation.
Application of ESWT is easy and does not require anesthesia. It is particularly useful as an effective conservative therapy in chronic wounds such as pressure sores that are contraindicated for surgery.
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Conclusion
Understanding of the wound healing process and assessment of influential factors of different wound type are crucial for successful wound care. Various energy based therapeutic devices have shown potential effect in treatment of chronic wounds by promoting cell activity as well as accelerating the healing process, reducing scars and preventing wound contracture. Therefore, these new treatment modalities are expected to continue to further their clinical application and development.
-The End-
