Recent Advances in Shockwave Therapy for Musculoskeletal and Soft-Tissue Disorders

A special issue of Biomedicines (ISSN 2227-9059). This special issue belongs to the section "Biomedical Engineering and Materials".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2024 | Viewed by 947

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1. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
2. Center for Rehabilitative Medicine “Sport and Anatomy”, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: rehabilitation and sports physiotherapy; virtual reality; mixed/augmented reality; shock wave therapy; shockwave treatment
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1. Department of Medical-Surgical and Translational Medicine Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
2. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Unit, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, 00189 Rome, Italy
Interests: orthopaedic sports medicine
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Department of Medical-Surgical and Translational Medicine Sciences, La Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: orthopaedic sports medicine; shockwaves therapy; tendon pathology; musculoskeletal pathologies
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Shock Waves Center, Ortho-Rehabilitation Department, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital and Humanitas University, 20048 Rozzano, Italy
Interests: shockwaves therapy; regenerative medicine; orthopedic sports medicine; tendon patology; musculo-skeletal patologies; rehabilitation; orthopedic medicine
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
2. Center for Rehabilitative Medicine “Sport and Anatomy”, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: transmission electron microscopy; fascia; cell signaling; anatomy; autophagy; immunocytochemistry; cellular biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
2. Center for Rehabilitative Medicine “Sport and Anatomy”, University of Pisa, 56126 Pisa, Italy
Interests: human anatomy; transmission electron microscopy; immunocitochemistry; physical therapy and rehabilitation; murine motor and behavioural tests
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue, which is titled “Recent Advances in Shockwave Therapy for Musculoskeletal and Soft-Tissue Disorders”, presents a comprehensive overview of research highlighting the latest breakthroughs in the application of shockwave therapy for the treatment of a variety of physical problems and pathological conditions involving the musculoskeletal system.

Being first introduced into routine clinical practice in the 1980s for treating urinary stones (lithotripsy), the application of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has rapidly expanded across a wide range of medical specialties, yielding promising outcomes for bones and soft-tissue healing, pain relief, and functional recovery. Due to the negligible side effects, such as pain during ESWT sessions and minor hematoma, this therapy represents a safe, advantageous, and well-tolerated approach without surgical risks or severe complications. Therefore, ESWT has gained increasing popularity for treating different musculoskeletal disorders and soft-tissue injuries.

Although increasing evidence indicates that the application of ESWT to the locomotor system may lead to various benefits beyond a mere mechanical disintegrative effect, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms of shock waves are still largely unknown. At the same time, different forms of ESWT (i.e., radial and focal ESWT) and treatment protocols may have substantial influences on achieving therapeutic effects and thus good clinical outcomes. Therefore, further studies are needed to identify the optimal treatment protocol and appropriate setup parameters (i.e., dosage, interval of treatments, number of sessions) for target patient populations.

This Special Issue brings together review and original articles that delve into various aspects of ESWT to provide current evidence on novel treatment indications for shockwave therapy, the advantages/disadvantages of ESWT protocols, and controversies regarding ESWT, clinical indications, biological principles, and mechanisms of action.

You may choose our Joint Special Issue in Life.

Prof. Dr. Marco Gesi
Prof. Dr. Mario Vetrano
Prof. Dr. Maria Chiara Vulpiani
Dr. Maria Cristina D’Agostino
Dr. Larisa Ryskalin
Dr. Federica Fulceri
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • shockwave
  • tissue regeneration
  • pain
  • functional recovery and healing
  • clinical applications
  • imaging

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 3059 KiB  
Article
Can Shockwave Treatment Elicit a Molecular Response to Enhance Clinical Outcomes in Pressure Ulcers? The SHOck Waves in wouNds Project
by Mirosław Sopel, Izabela Kuberka, Izabela Szczuka, Jakub Taradaj, Joanna Rosińczuk and Robert Dymarek
Biomedicines 2024, 12(2), 359; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines12020359 - 03 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 725
Abstract
Wound healing requires the coordinated interaction of dermis cells, the proper deposition of extracellular matrix, re-epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) is a promising therapeutic modality for chronic wounds. This study determined the biological mechanisms activated under ESW, facilitating the healing of [...] Read more.
Wound healing requires the coordinated interaction of dermis cells, the proper deposition of extracellular matrix, re-epithelialization, and angiogenesis. Extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) is a promising therapeutic modality for chronic wounds. This study determined the biological mechanisms activated under ESW, facilitating the healing of pressure ulcers (PUs). A group of 10 patients with PUs received two sessions of radial ESW (300 + 100 pulses, 2.5 bars, 0.15 mJ/mm2, 5 Hz). Histomorphological and immunocytochemical assessments were performed on tissue sections obtained from the wound edges before the ESW (M0) and after the first (M1) and second (M2) ESW. The proliferation index of keratinocytes and fibroblasts (Ki-67), the micro-vessels’ density (CD31), and the number of myofibroblasts (α-SMA) were evaluated. The involvement of the yes-associated protein (YAP1) in sensing mechanical strain, and whether the nuclear localization of YAP1, was shown. The increased proliferative activity of epidermal cells and skin fibroblasts and the increased number of myofibroblasts, often visible as integrated cell bands, were also demonstrated as an effect of wound exposure to an ESW. The results indicate that the major skin cells, keratinocytes, and fibroblasts are mechanosensitive. They intensify proliferation and extracellular matrix remodeling in response to mechanical stress. A significant improvement in clinical wound parameters was also observed. Full article
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