Use of the shock wave in rehabilitation

Use of the shock wave in rehabilitation – Everyone who attended a concert or went to a club could feel the impact of the sound wave first-hand. The speakers made the whole room tremble with the music. It was the air stirred by the vibrations of the membrane that created the most common mechanical wave in the life of every human being. Similar waves are used in the daily work of every good therapist .

How do we create a shockwave?

In rehabilitation, a shock wave is created using an ultrasound head. Vibrations of the material contained in it cause the wave to propagate in the tissues of the patient’s body. These vibrations can be produced, inter alia, by a piezoelectric material that deforms when a voltage is applied to it. Short electrical pulses at appropriate time intervals create a shock wave with a given frequency. In other heads, electromagnetic and electro-hydraulic phenomena are used.Use of the shock wave in rehabilitation

It is worth noting that contact heads are used, and a gel is used between the head and the tissue to facilitate the passage of waves. These gels have a neutral substance reaction, do not irritate the skin and have the appropriate density for the gel to be consistent with the frequency of the head. During shock wave therapy, they protect the patient’s skin against damage or overheating.

Mechanical wave can also be destructive. Therefore, by creating microcracks in a broken bone, we can stimulate the bone to fuse together. You can also treat conditions such as calcified tendons by breaking them down and allowing damaged tissue to heal.

What are the contraindications for using shockwave therapy?
This therapy is relatively safe, but it should be remembered that when performing it, energy is used that can destroy human tissue. For this reason, it is not recommended to use this method in a few cases. Its destructive effect in bone treatment is inadvisable in advanced osteoporosis, so as not to disturb the already damaged bone tissue. Destruction of blood vessels is a contraindication in hemophilia and when the patient is taking anticoagulants. It is not recommended to use this method around metal implants. This may cause the implant temperature to increase, burns and haemorrhage. People with a pacemaker should not have this procedure performed in the vicinity of this device, so as not to disturb it or destroy it.
The procedure is also refused to pregnant women, people who have recently had a heart attack and patients with advanced cancer.

What side effects may occur after shockwave rehabilitation?
It should be noted that shockwave therapy is defined as a non-invasive procedure. The occurrence of undesirable effects is small and the possible effects are mild. There may be a feeling of pain, swelling, subcutaneous hematomas and redness at the treatment sites.

Summary

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive method used in rehabilitation to relieve pain, stimulate microcirculation and tissue growth, and reduce inflammation and muscle tone.