medical effects

HOW SHOCKWAVES AND TISSUES INTERACT DURING THERAPY

ACCELERATED TISSUE REPAIR AND CELL GROWTH

 Ingrowth of  Neovascularization

Nutrient blood flow is necessary to start and maintain the repair processes of damaged tissue structure. The application of acoustic waves creates capillary micro-ruptures in tendon and bone and significantly increasing the expression of growth indicators such as the eNOS, VEGF, PCNA and BMP.

These two processes stimulate the growth and remodeling of new arterioles. The new blood vessels will improve the blood supply and the oxygenation resulting in the faster healing of both tendon and bone.

Chronic inflammation occurs when the inflammation response is not completely halted. It can damage healthy areas in the body and can result in chronic pain. The activity of mast cells, which are involved in inflammatory process, may be increased by pervasive acoustic waves.

Mast cell activation may be followed by the synthesis of chemokines and cytokines. The releasing of pro-inflammatory compounds, when needed, may help to restore the normal healing and regenerative processes.

The production of sufficient amounts of collagen is a necessary precondition of the tissue repair process. Shockwave therapy hastens procollagen synthesis. The newly created collagen fibers are forced into a longitudinal structure. These newly formed tendon fibers are more dense and stiff.

 

Acoustic waves promote neovascularization, collagen production and restore healing.

 

ANALGESIA AND MOBILITY RESTORATION

 Dispersion of Pain Mediator “Substance P“

Substance P is neurotransmitter that mediates pain information through the C-fibers. This neuropeptide is generally associated with intense, persistent and chronic pain. It is used to relay pain messages to the central nervous system. Lowering the concentration of Substance P reduces the stimulation of afferent nociceptive fibers and thus reduces the pain. Decreasing Substance P, histamines and other nociceptive metabolites also help to inhibit development of inflammatory edema.

Calcium build-up is most often the result of micro-tears or other trauma to a tendon. Acoustic waves break up existing calcifications. Acoustic wave therapy starts the biochemical decalcification of the toothpaste-like consistency calcium build-up and treats the tendon. The granular particles of calcium are removed by the lymphatic system.

 

Trigger points are the principal cause of pain in the back, neck, shoulder and limbs. They are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers and have extremely contracted sarcomeres. The dysfunctional sarcomeres contract so tightly that they begin to cut off their own blood supply. This causes the build-up of waste products which in turn irritates the sensory nerve endings which then causes yet more contraction. This vicious cycle is referred to as a “metabolic crisis”. Although the precise medical effects of acoustic wave therapy are still unclear, it can be assumed that the delivered acoustic energy unblocks the “calcium pump”. Thus, it reverses the metabolic crisis in the myofilaments and releases these trigger points.

 

Acoustic waves release extremely contracted sarcomeres in trigger points.