The innovative treatment with focal shock waves

No. Shock waves are acoustic waves (sound impulses, mechanical in nature) characterized by a particular waveform that differentiates them from all the others (first phase of positive pressure followed by a rapid phase of negative pressure), therapy tecar. Rather, it is heat therapy that harnesses the benefits of heat, such as laser therapy, ultrasound and infrared therapy. While in tecar therapy, heat is produced at an endogenous level, therefore inside the body, in the case of other techniques, heat is exogenous, i.e. produced by external devices. Tecartherapy uses a medical device capable of causing deep diathermy, or an increase in temperature in the tissues, this phenomenon occurs by the induction of a high frequency electric current, which acts directly on the body’s electrical charges. .

After 3 sessions of 500 shots each, the benefits are found approximately 2-3 weeks after the last treatment. In some cases, there is a benefit even after the first session.

No, the treatment – which must always be carried out according to codified therapeutic protocols and with appropriate equipment – is not particularly painful and for soft tissue pathologies such as tendons and ligaments, it is generally well tolerated. In some cases, if the patient feels particular discomfort, the doctor can always measure the intensity of the energy to ensure that the treatment is better tolerated and that it is still effective. In the case of treatments on the bone, for which greater energies are applied, it is possible that the pain is more intense and it is necessary to resort to local anesthesia.

One treatment lasts about 3 minutes. A cycle consists of 3 treatments, performed once a week for 3 weeks.

Yes, they can be considered as a valid alternative before resorting to surgery.

No, it is not the same. Radial shock waves operate at lower energies, the pressure of the wave does not exceed 5 bars, and there is no phase of the wave in negative pressure. Focal shock waves operate at higher energies, the pressure of the wave reaches 500 bar, the pressure peak when falling rapidly causes the negative phase of the wave and therefore produces a cavitation effect. The treatment by radial shock waves is longer, either in terms of seat than in number of treatments, the energy used is lower and superficial. For this reason it is not possible to treat all pathologies otherwise treated with excellent results in case of focal shock waves.

Yes, they can be applied in the presence of calcifications. Focal shock waves in some cases, along with the therapeutic effects, succeed in disrupting calcifications in tendons or near ligaments and joints, through a process of “dissolution” (comparable to the action of an anti- limestone)

We cannot use focal shock waves where structures such as the brain, spinal cord, and gonads are located near the focal field. The head area should not be treated and in the presence of hollow organs (e.g. lungs and intestine) close to the focal field (in fact, the passage of the sound wave from solid to gas could cause tissue lesions), in the case of anatomical abnormalities, acute inflammation of the tissues to be treated, in the case of tumors and thrombophlebitis, in pregnant women, in the presence of Pace Maker or electrostimulators of different origins, coagulopathies and cartilages still in the growth phase.

As this is a non-invasive treatment, there are no relevant side effects. However, after application of high energies, small and superficial and short-lived small bruises, petechiae and bruising may occur, a temporary exacerbation of pain symptoms, a phenomenon which should not be interpreted as an adverse or negative event, but on the contrary as a possibility. positive response to mechanical stimulation on tissue.