Shockwave Therapy - A Non-Invasive Option for Chronic Pain Relief

Many people suffer from chronic pain. Applying medicated plasters or getting massages only provides temporary relief, while taking painkillers raises concerns about potential side effects.

In rehabilitation medicine, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is an excellent option: it requires no surgery, no long-term medication, targets the lesion precisely, and many people see results after just 1-3 sessions.

Image Source: Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine - Rehabilitation Public Science

How Does Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy "Alleviate Pain"?

Shockwaves are a special type of sound wave whose carried energy can penetrate the skin and soft tissues, reaching deep into the body for treatment. They primarily work through three mechanisms:

1. Improves Local Blood Circulation: Stimulates vasodilation, increasing blood flow to damaged tissues (such as inflamed tendons or adhered fascia), thereby providing more oxygen and nutrients for tissue repair.

2. Modulates Pain Signals: Inhibits the release of pain mediators (like Substance P) from peripheral nerve endings while activating the body's endogenous pain relief system (such as promoting endorphin secretion), achieving a dual effect of "analgesia + desensitization".

3. Promotes Tissue Repair and Regeneration: Stimulates collagen regeneration, allowing damaged tendons and fascia to heal gradually, which is key to reducing pain recurrence from the root cause – this is also why it provides more long-lasting effects compared to simple pain relief.

What Are Its Characteristics Compared to Other Treatment Methods?

Treatment Method	Advantages	Limitations
Conventional Massage	Relaxes superficial muscles, relieves muscle tension	Limited depth of action (mostly within 1cm under the skin), ineffective for deep tendinitis or fascial adhesions; improper technique may worsen soft tissue injury
Oral NSAIDs (e.g., Ibuprofen)	Quickly relieves acute inflammation and pain	Only symptomatic relief, does not repair tissue; long-term use may cause gastrointestinal damage (e.g., ulcers), liver/kidney impairment, and may mask the condition
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy	Non-invasive (no wound, no infection risk), provides both pain relief and tissue repair, lower recurrence rate	Contraindicated in acute injury phase (e.g., within 48 hours post-injury, with obvious redness, swelling, heat, or pain); may cause local soreness or mild stinging during treatment (usually tolerable, pain level 1–3)
Open Surgery	Can address severe organic pathologies (e.g., complete tendon rupture, severe adhesions)	Invasive procedure, risks of infection and bleeding; requires 1–3 months of immobilization post-surgery, long recovery period, some patients may experience limited mobility afterward

What Pain Problems Can It Address?

Image Source: Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine - Rehabilitation Public Science

The primary clinical indications for Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy are chronic soft tissue injury-related pain, including:

Common Office Worker Issues: Cervical and shoulder myofascial pain syndrome, lumbar muscle strain (excluding cases caused by lumbar disc herniation compressing nerves).

Sports-Related Injuries: Achilles tendinitis (primarily insertional), lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), patellar tendinitis, chronic pain after ankle sprain (excluding ligament instability).

Recurrent Pain: Plantar fasciitis (morning pain, aggravated by walking), trigger finger (stenosing tenosynovitis).

Postoperative Pain: Residual soft tissue pain after knee arthroscopy (e.g., synovial adhesion), pain during the recovery period after Achilles tendon repair surgery (excluding cases of poor healing).

Who Is Not Suitable for Shockwave Therapy?

• Individuals with local skin breaks, infections, or ulcers: To avoid exacerbating local inflammation during treatment.

• Pregnant women (if treatment area is near the abdomen), infants, and young children: Shockwaves may potentially affect fetal or child development.

• Patients with coagulation disorders (e.g., hemophilia) or thrombocytopenia: May cause bleeding at the treatment site.

• Cancer patients (with tumors at or near the treatment site): To avoid potentially stimulating cancer cell spread.

• Individuals with electronic implants such as cardiac pacemakers or cochlear implants: Shockwaves may interfere with the normal operation of electronic devices.