Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a safe, innovative, cost-effective and non-invasive treatment with convincing evidence of its effectiveness from numerous research and clinical trials. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWL) was first introduced in 1980 by Dr. Used by Christian Chaussy for the treatment of kidney stones in a lithotripsy procedure (C. Chaussy, E. Schmiedt, B. Jocham, W. Brendel, B. Forssmann, and V. Walther, “First clinical experience with extracorporeally induced destruction of kidney stones by shock waves,” The Journal of Urology, vol. 127, no. 3, pp. 417–420, 1982). Later, by coincidence, during a lithotripsy procedure in the pelvic region in 1992, it was discovered by Dr. Gerald Haupt the effects of ESWT on the iliac crest bone stimulation and it has started to be used in orthopedics (Haupt G, Haupt A, Ekkernkamp A, et al. Influence of shock waves on fracture healing. Urology. 1992; 39:529–32). It has been revealed by research and applications that shock waves increase fracture healing and can be used to treat conditions of tendon and overused fascia. The main benefits of shockwave therapy are relief of pain and restoration of function. Shockwave therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for a number of common tendon complaints, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and tennis elbow. Today, ESWT applications are a frequently preferred method in the fields of veterinary medicine, neurology, urology, cardiology, sports medicine, dermatology and aesthetics, but especially in orthopedics and physical therapy. Advantages of this system are; provides a faster tissue healing by increasing vascularization, collagen synthesis and oxygenation in the tissue, develops less adhesiveness and provides a mechanically stronger tissue.
