Shockwave Therapy Promotes Bone Healing and Glycosaminoglycan Expression
Title: Effects of shock wave therapy on glycosaminoglycan expression during bone healing
Authors: Paulo Roberto Dias Dos Santos, Valquiria Pereira De Medeiros, João Paulo Freire Martins de Moura, Carlos Eduardo da Silveira Franciozi, Helena Bonciani Nader, Flavio Faloppa
In this study, researchers investigated the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on bone healing and the expression of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) in rats. GAGs play a crucial role in bone formation and repair.
The study involved 50 male Wistar rats that underwent bone drilling. Half of the rats received ESWT treatment, while the other half served as the control group. The rats were sacrificed at different time points ranging from 3 to 28 days after treatment to assess GAG expression.
The results showed a significant increase in the amount of sulfated GAGs over time, indicating enhanced bone healing in both groups. Chondroitin sulfate, a specific type of GAG, was found to be expressed at higher levels compared to other GAGs.
Furthermore, the rats treated with ESWT exhibited a significant increase in hyaluronic acid (HA) expression at the 3rd day compared to the control group. HA is another important component of the extracellular matrix involved in bone regeneration.
These findings suggest that ESWT promotes the expression of sulfated GAGs during bone healing and accelerates the early expression of HA. The stimulation of GAGs and HA may contribute to improved bone repair and consolidation.
This study highlights the potential benefits of shockwave therapy in enhancing bone healing processes. By promoting the expression of key components involved in bone regeneration, ESWT shows promise as a non-invasive treatment option for conditions involving delayed bone healing.