Abstract

In Germany the past decade has seen extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) become a standard treatment option for various disorders of the musculoskeletal system. The prospective studies published to date have yielded positive as well as negative results for the treatment of plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. This paper also presents the results of randomized placebo controlled studies which so far have only been presented at various conferences. The review discusses current information about clinical research in ESWT, with its sometimes controversial results, from the perspective of the long-term user.