Extracorporeal shock wave therapy | ESWT

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an innovative and successful method of treating a variety of painful conditions. With the aid of this therapy pathological changes to tendons, ligaments, joint capsules, muscles and bones can be eliminated. The method is particularly popular in the USA for getting rid of cellulites.

In shock wave therapy the diseased tissue is bombarded with high-, combined with low-energy ballistic radial shock waves. This stimulates metabolism and improves blood circulation to the area of treatment, which in turn facilitates self-healing without additional drug administration.

Do you suffer from acute or chronic pain in muscles, tendon attachments, the shoulder or heel? Do you have a long history of headaches or chronic back pain that considerably restricts movements and the quality of your life?

ESWT is a modern, highly effective method of pain management. In particular, chronic stress damage to tennis or golf elbow, as well as shoulder calcification and heel spur can be treated with focused high-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy. New is the possibility of treating posture disorders, myofascial syndrome and disturbed movement patterns with trigger points, as well as removing cellulites.

Treatment with ballistic (radial) shock waves is not only possible for chronic symptoms but also for acute complaints. It is particularly effective in the treatment of acute sports injuries involving muscles and tendon strains.

We operate a modern shock wave device and have many years of experience in the field. Dr. Surminski is member of a German-speaking international society for extracorporeal shock wave therapy (DIGEST).

Which complaints can be treated?

• Shoulder calcification – shoulder pain with limited movement
• Tennis or golf elbow – chronic elbow pain
• Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper’s knee) – stress pain in the kneecap
• Medial tibial syndrome – painful condition of the shins with inflammation of connective tissue
• Achillodynia – chronic pain of the Achilles tendon
• Heel spur – usually chronic, painful inflammation under the heel bone, often with local calcification
• Trigger points treatment – muscularly caused chronic tension and pain in the shoulder-neck region and back, as well as chronic headaches
• Arthritis of the knee

• Pseudoarthritis treatment for badly healing fractures
• Cellulite removal

Clinical practice

A shock wave applicator is moved across the painful area, controlled, if necessary, by means of an ultrasonic device.

The treatment itself lasts 20 to 30 minutes. Therapy usually stretches over 4 to 6 sessions; some chronic conditions require up to 10 sessions 1–2 times weekly.

Most patients notice a definite improvement eight to ten days after the first treatment session, although in some cases this can take up to 10 to 12 weeks.