Intensive care medicine

Hamstring

Sports injury

Athletes

Injury prevention

Tendon

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy

Epicondylitis

Surgery

Anesthesiology

Pain management

Pain medicine

Medical emergency

Alternative medicine

Poison control

Political science

Elbow

Physical therapy

Sports medicine

MEDLINE

Medicine

Physical medicine and rehabilitation

Tennis elbow

Extracorporeal

Plantar fasciitis

Tendinopathy

Stress fractures

Pathology

Current Sports Medicine Reports

Treatment of musculoskeletal conditions in athletes with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is gaining popularity as greater evidence supports its use. ESWT protocols (describing energy flux density, number of impulses, type of shockwave (focused or radial), number/frequency/duration of treatment session, area of application, and postprocedural therapy protocols) can be adjusted in the clinical setting. Protocols vary across studies, and optimal protocols for most indications are yet to be determined. ESWT can safely be used to treat various musculoskeletal conditions in athletes, including rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral elbow epicondlyopathy, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, hamstring tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, other tendinopathies, plantar fasciopathy, bone stress injuries, and medial tibial stress syndrome. ESWT can be used to treat in-season athletes, as it often requires no/minimal time away from sport and may result in rapid benefits. ESWT should be used in conjunction with physical therapy to facilitate longer-term gains in function and to optimize healing.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in the Management of Sports Medicine Injuries