Shockwave therapy is one of the many methods to address tendon, elbow, or hamstring, today. The treatment uses high-intensity sound waves, or “shockwaves,” to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal disorders.
Focused and radial shockwave treatment are the two most common types of this therapy. This blog will compare and contrast focused and radial shockwave treatment, highlighting the critical distinctions between the two as well as the potential benefits and drawbacks of each.
Focused Shockwave Therapy
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is another name for focused shockwave therapy. Shockwave therapy employs a single, intense shockwave directed at the problem region. A handheld device is used to apply the shockwave to the epidermis.
Advantages of Focused Shockwave Therapy:
Highly effective: Focused shockwave treatment is highly successful in treating several conditions, including shoulder pain, achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis.
Precise: Focused shockwave therapy is a particular treatment choice because it targets the region from which the pain is coming.
Short treatment duration: Focused shockwave therapy is a quick and practical treatment option for patients because focused shockwave therapy treatments usually last only a few minutes per session.
Minimal side effects: Focused shockwave treatment has a low risk of side effects and is typically well tolerated.
Drawbacks of Focused Shockwave Therapy:
Painful: Focused shockwave therapy can be uncomfortable for some patients, particularly those with sensitive skin or low pain tolerance.
Costly: When compared to other non-invasive treatments, focused shockwave therapy is an expensive treatment choice.
Needs a qualified practitioner: To prevent potential complications, a qualified and experienced practitioner should only administer shockwave treatment.
Radial Shockwave Therapy
Radial shockwave therapy is also known as Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (RESWT). This type of shockwave therapy uses a series of lower-intensity shockwaves dispersed over a wider problem area. The shockwaves are delivered through a handheld device placed directly on the skin.
Advantages of Radial Shockwave Therapy:
Non-painful: Radial shockwave therapy is well-tolerated and does not typically produce severe pain or discomfort.
Cost-effectiveness: Compared to targeted shockwave therapy, radial shockwave therapy is more economical.
A wider variety of professionals can carry it out: Apart from experienced urologists , physiotherapists and chiropractors are just two healthcare professionals who can administer radial shockwave therapy.
Suitable for a more comprehensive range of conditions: more broadly applicable to a broader range of conditions: Muscle strains and tendinitis are among the disorders that respond well to radial shockwave therapy.
Drawbacks of Radial Shockwave Therapy:
Less precise: Radial shockwave therapy is less precise than focused shockwave therapy and may not be as effective for some very particular conditions.
Longer treatment duration: Radial shockwave therapy typically lasts 15-30 minutes per session, which may be less convenient for some patients.
May require more sessions: Radial shockwave therapy may require more sessions compared to focused shockwave therapy to achieve the desired results.
Main Differences Between Focused and Radial Shockwave Therapy
Technology: Focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) uses a high-energy shock wave generated by an electromagnetic or piezoelectric source and focused on the targeted body area using an applicator. Radial shockwave therapy (RSWT), on the other hand, uses a low to a medium-energy shockwave generated by compressed air and spread over a larger area using a handheld applicator.
Depth of penetration: Compared to RSWT, which only penetrates up to 3 cm, FSWT can reach a deeper depth of up to 10 cm in the tissue. While RSWT is more suited to treating more superficial injuries, such as those to the muscles and tendons, FSWT is appropriate for treating more severe injuries, like those to the bones.
Treatment protocol: Due to its concentrated nature, FSWT necessitates a more extended treatment period and a smaller treatment area. RSWT, on the other hand, offers a bigger treatment surface and requires less time to complete, making it perfect for treating more significant body parts or numerous injuries at once.
Pain level: While RSWT is typically considered as less uncomfortable, FSWT can be a little more uncomfortable than a RSWT during treatment.
Focused or Radial Shockwave Therapy: Which One is Right for You?
In conclusion, while focused and radial shockwave therapy has unique benefits and applications, they differ significantly in their mechanism of action, depth of penetration, and clinical outcomes. Focused shockwave therapy targets specific deep tissue areas.
As a result, it is highly effective for treating chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as tendinopathy. In contrast, radial shockwave therapy delivers a broader and more diffuse energy field and is typically used for treating superficial soft tissue injuries like plantar fasciitis or tennis elbow.
Ultimately, the choice between these two modalities will depend on the patient’s individual needs, and the nature of their condition. Just make sure to choose the right urologic clinic to get the most out of this treatment for your specified condition.
