Extracorporeal shockwave therapy. The orthopedist destroys nothing

Background. In the view of the author, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is one of the important forms of therapy within the framework of conservative orthopedics in private practices. It provides therapy approaches for all relevant structures of the musculoskeletal system. Although ESWT has been used in the field of orthopedics for almost 30 years, there are still many deficits of knowledge In its application. Methods. According to the current state of knowledge, in the field of orthopedics the pressure phase as well as the drag phase of extracorporeal shock waves are utilized. During the drag phase cavitation bubbles are formed, which are at least important cofactors in triggering the biological reaction. Decisive for the selection of an ESWT device is In particular the penetration depth in which cavitation bubbles are formed and needed.