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radial vs focused
Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) employs radial pressure waves that spread energy over a broader area. The shockwaves resonate most effectively in superficial tissue; as such, they spread outward, diminishing as they travel farther from the applicator. This makes Radial Shockwave Therapy ideal for surface-level conditions and larger treatment areas. Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSWT) utilizes focused acoustic waves for precise targeting of deep tissues. The waves reach deep into the tissue directly below the applicator, without spreading much to surrounding tissues. Focused Shockwave Therapy is effective for deep tissue injuries.
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the science
Shockwave Therapy is also called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). The energy produced in Shockwave Therapy (SWT) is focused ultrasonic energy producing high-energy acoustic waves (20,000 Hz and greater). Focused shockwaves are produced via electromagnetic, electro-hydraulic, or piezoelectric methods, concentrating energy at specific deep tissue points. Radial shockwaves are generated by accelerating a projectile in a tube, creating waves that spread out radially and resonate in superficial tissues. It is also called Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPWT). Both types of shockwaves interact with different tissue layers, altering their amplitude and sound field shape for therapeutic effects.
the history
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy originated in the early 1980s as a procedure called lithotripsy, for the treatment kidney stones and biliary calculi (stones in the gallbladder or liver). Researchers and practitioners using ESWT began to notice an increase in patients' bone density in nearby bones, which prompted an exploration into its therapeutic potential for other conditions. By the 1990s and early 2000s, studies showed ESWT could alleviate pain and promote healing in bones, tendons, ligaments, and fascia for musculoskeletal disorders, and reduce spasticity in neurological disorders.