Application of shock waves in medicine

Extracorporeal-generated shock waves were introduced approximately 20 years ago to disintegrate kidney stones. This treatment method substantially cha nged the treatment of urolithiasis. Shock waves have become the treatment o f choice for kidney and ureteral stones. Urology, however, is not the only medical field for the potential use of shock waves for problems. Shock wave s subsequently have been used in orthopaedics and traumatology to treat var ious insertional tendinopathies (enthesiopathies) and delayed unions and no nunions of fracture. Shock wave application also has been used in the treat ment of tendinopathies in veterinary conditions (race horses). The concept of orthopaedic disorders is that shock waves stimulate or reactivate healin g processes in tendons, surrounding tissue and bones, probably through micr odisruption of avascular or minimally vascular tissues to encourage revascu larization, release of local growth factors, and the recruitment of appropr iate stem cells conducive to more normal tissue healing. The current author will give an overview of history and basic research of the application of shock waves in medicine.