Shockwaves target phantom limb pain

This study tested whether a treatment called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) could reduce pain and shrink painful bone spurs in people who have had a leg amputated due to trauma. Twenty-nine male amputees with a painful bone spur in their residual limb were randomly assigned to receive either real shockwave therapy plus exercises or fake (sham) shockwave therapy plus exercises. Researchers measured their pain levels, ability to function, and the size of the bone spur before treatment, 4 weeks after, and 12 weeks after.