Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Issues

Also known as Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), the treatment modality uses electric waves to jumpstart your body after an injury. It is a popular method of healing muscular and pain-causing diseases. Shockwave therapy (SWT) is a highly efficient, non-surgical therapy that is FDA-approved for musculoskeletal disorders such as golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, and plantar fasciitis. This form of treatment has shown promising results in treating shoulder disorders. Research shows that shockwave therapy alters the pathophysiological process of different musculoskeletal conditions. Therefore, it can bring positive changes to patient conditions. Today, we will discover how introducing shockwaves benefits shoulder pain.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment in which the professional introduces high-energy electric shockwaves (via a hand-held device) to cure soft tissue abnormalities. It is known for managing upper and lower limb tendinopathies. Moreover, this form of treatment can effectively relieve pain and come in handy in numerous shoulder pathologies. There are different types of shockwave therapies including focused, radial, and combined.

Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Disorders

Patients with the following conditions can benefit from SWT/ESWT:

Tendinitis/Tendinopathies – Inflammation and tearing of soft tissues, especially tendons can cause significant pain and discomfort. Studies show that the use of shockwave therapy yields results similar to steroid injections and has minimal side effects. Therefore, shockwave therapy is a choice for most patients.

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy – Among shoulder tendinopathies, the most prevalent issue is rotator cuff tendonitis. Incorporating shockwaves can alleviate symptoms. A 2024 study, showed that ESWT can lead to significant functional improvements in rotator cuff disease patients. Study members also reported superior pain relief and strong functional recovery. Another randomized study advocates the use of ESWT as an adjuvant therapy for rotator cuff patients suffering from shoulder stiffness.

Calcific Tendonitis – Another condition that can affect shoulder health is calcific tendonitis. The use of radial shockwave therapy improves shoulder articular function, lowers pain, and enhances overall quality of life. Clinical studies demonstrate that the most beneficial wave therapy for calcific tendonitis is combined focused and radial ESWT.

Frozen Shoulder – Adhesive capsulitis or frozen shoulder is a painful condition of the shoulder that affects 3-5% of the general population. When used as an adjunctive therapy, ESWT alleviates pain and improves function. The treatment is completely safe and readily accepted by most patients.

In addition to chronic shoulder pain, patients with shoulder injuries can also take advantage of extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy?

The introduction of electric shockwaves in the body has the following benefits:

• Improves circulation of the injured/inflamed tissues
• Breaks down calcific deposits (as in calcific tendonitis)
• Stimulates the regeneration of new connective tissues
• Cuts down inflammation of the affected site

Shockwave Therapy at The Legacy Clinic Of Chiropractic

The Legacy Clinic of Chiropractic offers high-quality treatments for shoulder pain. Shockwave therapy is one of our most efficient and liked therapies for shoulder disorders. If shoulder pain keeps you from doing your basic activities, we suggest you get a session of shockwave therapy!

Final Word

Electroconvulsive Shockwave therapy (ESWT) is an effective therapy to treat different shoulder pathologies such as calcific tendonitis, rotator cuff injury, frozen shoulder, etc.  The introduction of high-energy electric shockwaves improves blood flow and promotes natural healing of the body.

References

1. Al-Abbad, H., Allen, S., Morris, S., Reznik, J., Biros, E., Paulik, B., & Wright, A. (2020). The effects of shockwave therapy on musculoskeletal conditions based on changes in imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis with meta-regression. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 21, 1-26.
2. Elgendy, M. H., Khalil, S. E., ElMeligie, M. M., & Elazab, D. R. (2024). Effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in treatment of upper and lower limb tendinopathies: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. Physiotherapy Research International, 29(1), e2042.
3. Lee, H. W., Kim, J. Y., Park, C. W., Haotian, B., Lee, G. W., & Noh, K. C. (2022). Comparison of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and ultrasound-guided shoulder injection therapy in patients with supraspinatus tendinitis. Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery, 14(4), 585.
4. Xue, X., Song, Q., Yang, X., Kuati, A., Fu, H., & Cui, G. (2024). Effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for rotator cuff tendinopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, 25(1), 1-20.
5. Ammendolia, A., Marotta, N., Demeco, A., Marinaro, C., Moggio, L., Barletta, M., & Costantino, C. (2020). Effectiveness of Radial Shockwave Therapy in Calcific and Non-Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Muscles, Ligaments & Tendons Journal (MLTJ), 10(1).
6. Abo Al-Khair, M. A., El Khouly, R. M., Khodair, S. A., Al Sattar Elsergany, M. A., Hussein, M. I., & Eldin Mowafy, M. E. (2021). Focused, radial and combined shock wave therapy in treatment of calcific shoulder tendinopathy. The Physician and Sportsmedicine, 49(4), 480-487.
7. Jacob, L., Gyasi, R. M., Koyanagi, A., Haro, J. M., Smith, L., & Kostev, K. (2023). Prevalence of and risk factors for adhesive capsulitis of the shoulder in older adults from Germany. Journal of clinical medicine, 12(2), 669.