Shock waves are nowadays world-wide the method of choice for the treatment of kidney stones. The stones are destroyed into small fragments which are passed with the urine.

The following types of stones in the human body can also be treated with shock waves:

1. gallbladder stones

2. stones in the biliary tract

3. stones in the pancreatic duct

4. stones in the salivary gland

In addition to stone fragmentation (called lithotripsy) there are some other diseases which are in Germany treated with shock waves since a few years. They are all related to diseases of bones and joints. Non healing fractures (called pseudarthrosis), calcified shoulders, heel spurs and tennis elbows are now tentatively treated with shock waves. The clinical effectiveness of these new treatments is still under investigation. Randomized controlled studies with long term follow up are now under way.

è What is the historical origin of shock wave application?