Shockwave Therapy: A Breakthrough for Pet Mobility

Radial extracorporeal shockwave treatment (rESWT) is an innovative therapy for pets, utilizing high-energy sound waves, not electrical shocks, to stimulate the body's natural healing processes. These acoustic waves trigger the development of new blood vessels, reverse chronic inflammation, stimulate collagen production, and dissolve calcium build-up, creating an optimal environment for tissue repair. This mechanism alleviates pain and restores functionality by promoting the release of healing cytokines and increasing serotonin activity.

A key benefit of rESWT was demonstrated in a study of 30 dogs with hip osteoarthritis, showing significant improvements in lameness, pain, and overall quality of life, confirmed by pressure walkway analysis and owner observations. This aligns with findings from a prior Austrian study. Beyond osteoarthritis, rESWT effectively treats a wide array of canine conditions, including hip and elbow dysplasia, tendon and ligament injuries, chronic back pain, lick granulomas, sesamoiditis, and non-healing fractures. Specific examples include 88% improvement in dogs with soft tissue shoulder conditions and complete bone healing for distal radial fracture non-unions.

While the loud equipment and potential discomfort may necessitate sedation or anesthesia, treatment times are relatively short, often under four minutes for 800 pulses per joint. Pets typically experience pain relief within 24 hours. Musculoskeletal conditions usually require one to three treatments every two to three weeks, with arthritis patients receiving maintenance every 6-12 months. Wounds are treated weekly. The article emphasizes that rESWT should always be combined with physical rehabilitation to ensure a full return to activity, with no explicit risks or negative side effects mentioned.

(Source: https://www.barkandwhiskers.com/2017-02-15-nl-reswt-shockwave-therapy/)