체외충격파치료의 임상적 적용

Abstract

Shock waves were employed for many years for the management of urolithiasis in people, but in the 1990s use was extended to musculoskeletal diseases, including epicondylitis of the elbow, plantar fasciitis, and calcifying and noncalcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff. With the noninvasive nature of these waves and their seemingly low complication rate, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) seemed a promising alternative to the established conservative and surgical options in the treatment of patients with chronically painful conditions. Much is known about the physics of shock waves, however, less is known about the mechanisms of action of shock waves in musculoskeletal diseases. This article describes the shock wave, generation of shock wave, therapeutic parameters, interactions with musculoskeletal tissues and clinical applications.