Shockwave Therapy for Animal Rehabilitation
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (often called just shockwave therapy or ESWT) uses acoustic energy directed to target treatment areas of an animal’s body. The shockwaves trigger the body’s repair mechanisms, enabling healing and long-term improvement of a variety of conditions. In ESWT, high-intensity sound waves interact with the body’s tissues, leading to the development of new blood vessels, the reversal of chronic inflammation, the stimulation of collagen production, and the dissolution of calcium buildup. Studies of shockwave therapy for dogs have shown positive results in improving bone healing, soft tissue damage, joint inflammation, and both the progression and pain of osteoarthritis.
Research-Backed Results
According to Clinician’s Brief, of 4 dogs treated for non-healing fractures, 3 showed significant improvement in bone healing following ESWT. In a study of dogs with distal radial fracture non-unions (a break near the bottom of the front limb, just above the wrist joint), all dogs that received ESWT showed complete bone healing after 12 weeks, while no dogs in the control group achieved complete bony union.
In a study of dogs with lameness due to soft-tissue shoulder conditions, 88% showed improvement after shockwave therapy with no surgical intervention. ESWT was also shown to significantly reduce distal ligament thickening in dogs with knee joint inflammation following surgery for a CCL rupture.
Shockwave therapy has been shown to promote the development of new blood vessels at the bone-tendon interface of the Achilles tendon in dogs. ESWT has been shown to modulate osteoarthritis in animals by reducing nitric oxide production in joints and inhibiting cell death in healthy cartilage. Shockwave therapy can also be beneficial in managing the pain of arthritis. Studies have demonstrated positive results in joint range of motion and peak vertical force in dogs with knee, hip, and elbow arthritis.
Protocol Information
During ESWT sessions, a specialized handpiece delivers high-energy sound waves directly to the targeted area. These waves stimulate blood flow, promote the development of new blood vessels, and accelerate tissue repair. The procedure is non-invasive, performed with your pet comfortably resting, and typically requires only a few treatments to achieve noticeable improvement. Most pets tolerate the therapy very well.