There is an exciting prospective, randomized and single-blinded study to measure the influence of shock wave therapy on patients with low back pain.
In todays world there are many ways of treating and managing lower back pain and sciatic pain. The common medical approach for lower back pain therapy is still mainly pharmacological – which definitely has its place. Physiotherapy, chiropractic and osteopathy all take a more biomechanical look to the treatment of back pain.
International guidelines for the management of lower back pain have been developed and only vary slightly from country. Treatments like spinal manipulation, core stabilisation training, cognitive behavioural therapy and acupuncture all feature. Shock wave therapy on the other hand has not been studied enough for us to know whether it warrants inclusion into guidelines for the treatment of lower back pain.
Shock wave therapy is defined as a series of high energy acoustic wave impulses that produce momentary turbulent pressure changes in the target tissue. Shock wave therapy was initially developed as a non-invasive procedure for breaking up kidney stones. This is made possible by the fact that the shock waves are absorbed by soft tissues to a depth of down to 12 cm.
Radial shock waves (the ones used in the study) are generated by a pneumatic (ballistic) method using a device that produces compressed air, which fires a special bullet inside a short tube. This bullet, after accelerating, hits the head of the device and causes the transformation of kinetic energy into a pressure wave. This wave then propagates into the tissue.
There has been a good deal of interesting research into the benefits and physical effects of shock wave therapy on injured and sick tendon, bone and connective tissue: and its effects on pain. There is however very little high quality research on Shock Wave Therapy’s effects on lower back pain. The researchers in this study were therefore, aiming to assess the influence radial shock wave therapy in the treatment of patients with lower back pain.
In human lives we need the stress of exercise and gravity or out bones and soft tissues turn to mush. These are all examples of a natural principle called ‘Hormesis’. Hormeses is a positive and fortifying response to a controlled dose of stress. This is the principle by which shock wave therapy impacts conditions like shoulder pain, back pain, wrist pain, hand pain, ITB band, ankle pain, hip pain and knee pain.
