Shock waves effectively treat heel, elbow pain: orthopedic lithotripsy also improves physical activity [American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting]

DALLAS - There's more evidence that extracorporeal shock wave therapy can help patients with plantar fasciitis or tennis elbow who haven't responded to conventional treatment.

Also known as orthopedic lithotripsy, or orthotripsy, the procedure uses spark plug technology to generate high-energy acoustic shock waves that are aimed at the affected area.

Some researchers believe the shock waves stimulate the healing process by disrupting damaged tissue and encouraging revascularization, release of growth factors and recruitment of stem cells.

Others argue the treatment provides hyperstimulation analgesia.

In a poster at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons meeting here, researchers with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, N. Y, reported favourable results in patients with symptoms of proximal plantar fasciitis for...