SHOCKWAVE THERAPY TERMINOLOGY
Shockwave therapy made its medical debut in the 1980s in the form of lithotripsy, a technology that uses high intensity shockwaves to break up kidney stones. Now, similar technology that utilizes lower intensity shockwave energy is making a significant impact in treating musculoskeletal conditions. Unfortunately, there can be confusion surrounding the treatment because various terms are used in the clinical space and the scientific literature to describe shockwave therapy. Some examples are:
ESWT: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy FSW: Focused Shockwave EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulsed Activation Therapy
RPW: Radial Pressure Wave AWT: Acoustic Wave Therapy
The list grows as companies continue to develop specific names for the technology in an attempt to differentiate their products.
Regardless of how many names are coined, the important thing to know is that ESWT is the general term used for shockwave therapy and there are two primary families of devices under this umbrella: FSW and RPW.
Both FSW and RPW are mechanical energy in the form of an acoustic wave that is transmitted into the body and creates a phenomenon known as mechanotransduction. In simple terms, it is the process of imparting brief, physical deformation to cells that lead to biochemical changes. These changes have the potential to positively affect pain and tissue repair. 1
4
Made with FlippingBook - PDF hosting