Shock Wave Therapy (Swiss DolorClast)

Sportklinik uses the Swiss DolorClast radial shock wave device — the clinical standard for non-surgical treatment of soft tissue overuse injuries. Acoustic pressure waves generated at 5–6 bar penetrate up to 3.5 cm into the target tissue, breaking down calcium deposits, stimulating local circulation, and triggering the natural tissue-repair cascade. The device is widely cited in clinical literature for 80–95% success rates in enthesopathies and chronic tendon conditions when delivered as a 5-session course. Sessions last approximately 15 minutes and are performed by the clinical team under medical supervision from MUDr. Jiří Neumann. No anesthesia is required, though mild transient discomfort during the procedure is normal.

Shock wave therapy at Sportklinik is delivered using the Swiss DolorClast system — an EMS (Electro Medical Systems) radial shock wave device that generates acoustic pressure waves from compressed air at 5 to 6 bar. These radial waves spread from the applicator tip through contact gel into the underlying soft tissue, reaching depths of up to 3.5 cm without breaking the skin. The mechanism is mechanical and well-characterised: repeated high-pressure pulses reduce tissue tension, increase local blood perfusion, stimulate new capillary formation (angiogenesis), promote calcium deposit resorption in tendons, and activate fibroblasts responsible for collagen synthesis and tissue repair. Conditions treated at Sportklinik include tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), shoulder enthesopathies (calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff insertional pathology), Achilles tendon inflammation, shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome), patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee), plantar fasciitis, and heel spurs. Clinical literature reports 80–95% success rates for chronic enthesopathies that have not responded to physiotherapy alone. The standard protocol is 5 sessions, each approximately 15 minutes, scheduled 5–7 days apart. Each session begins with a brief physician or physiotherapist assessment to confirm the treatment target and monitor for any signs of adverse response. Contact gel is applied to the skin, and the applicator is moved across the treatment area in slow overlapping passes. Patients may experience a dull pressure or mild discomfort during the procedure — this is expected and indicates effective energy transfer. A temporary increase in local sensitivity, minor bruising, or transient swelling may occur in the 24 hours following a session; these are normal biological responses. Absolute contraindications include treatment over growth plates in children, active malignancy in the treatment area, coagulation disorders, and pacemakers. Treatment within the skull, spine, or lung is not performed. A pre-treatment assessment with the Sportklinik physician is included in the first appointment. The full 5-session course of 5,500 Kč is the clinically effective dose — individual sessions are available but a partial course may not deliver the full response.