What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a device that sends a high intensity sound wave into the body. ESWT was first used in a procedure to break up kidney stones also called Lithotripsy. Based on these positive effects on calcium in the human body clinicians conducted research on calcium deposits in the shoulder, called calcific tendonitis. If Shockwave Therapy worked on kidney stones, then maybe it could work on shoulder calcific tendonitis. Positive effects of healing were noticed with complete resolution of calcium with normal x-rays. Prior to Shockwave Therapy there were not many good treatments for shoulder calcium deposits. From this success started an increase in Shockwave research leading to FDA approval in many conditions.