Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment for Low Back Pain

Low back pain is a common symptom in patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, affecting several individuals. In most cases, low back pain can often prove to be nonspecific or even multifactorial. Current treatment approach is based on surgical and noninvasive interventions, including pharmacological, psychological, physiotherapeutic, or complementary strategies. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a type of noninvasive mechanotherapy that has become popular in recent years due to its applicability in the treatment of various musculoskeletal disorders, especially in the lumbar spine of individuals with osteopo-rosis, sacroiliitis, and even spinal cord disorders. The objective of this manuscript is to review the scientific evidence supporting the application of this therapy in the management of low back pain, and give a brief description of the treatment techniques used in clinical settings. The articles included in this descriptive review were selected from databases using the Google Scholar tool, from which a total of 13 applicable studies matching the topic were included. Despite the need for more clinical trials, shock waves have been applied in medical health for many years with satisfactory results. Its application in the treatment of lumbar spine disorders has been shown to be advantageous in the management of pathological progression, such as the natural wear and tear process of musculoskeletal structures. In this sense, shockwave therapy may represent a viable alternative for the treatment of lumbar spine disorders; however, its therapeutic effects andmechanisms require further elucidation.