Introduction of ISMST

ISMST-History The European Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave Therapy (ESMST) was established on Sept. 12th, 1997, in Vienna, Austria, following the DGOT-Conference. The objective of the society was to promote research and development of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in Europe. Representatives from 8 European countries were involved: Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Turkey, Austria, Switzerland, Slovak Republic and Spain attended the Society`s inaugural session. The society`s development paralleled the rapid spread of shockwave therapy. It’s first international conference took place in Izmir/Turkey in 1998 with international participation which included colleagues from outside Europe. Keeping track with the globalization of the society, the ESMST was unanimously renamed ISMST (International Society for Musculoskeletal Shockwave Therapy) during the annual 1999 conference in London. In attendance were participants from Japan, Taiwan, Canada and the United States. At the AGM (Annual General Meeting) 2007 in Toronto the discussions have been prolonged, since more and more non-musculoskeletal experts are involved and because “therapy” was not adequate for negotiations with insurance companies and governmental authorities, the name was changed again into International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST).

The spread of shockwave therapy and the ISMST continued enormously. With further indications of the successful therapy the spectrum of users and scientists enlarged from the trauma surgery and orthopedics to the sports medicine, rehabilitation medicine, rheumatology, dermatology, plastic surgery, cardiology and veterinarian medicine. Until today the ISMST has more than 371 regular members from 56 different countries1. This is the reason why the ISMST was once more renamed into the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST). The success of the ISMST is seen in the good cooperation of all the National Societies in the managing board and the advisory board of the ISMST. Since 2009 during the congresses were also offered official certificated instructional courses, which were attended very well. Under auspices of the ISMST this course was developed as the standard of ESWT education, many National Societies invited ISMST to bring this course to their country. This educational success has improved the training programs and raised the quality level of ESWT in general. To point out and realize the high scientific standard of the ISMST since 2010 every second year the high level scientists meet for an ISMST Basic Research Meeting to improve research activities and the network throughout the scientific centers, what gave a great advance for the ESWT technology.

Past ISMST Congresses

Upcoming ISMST Congresses

20th ISMST Congress San Sebsatian, Spain，Ramon Aranzabal ，2017

21th Congress Auckland, New Zealand，        Kenneth Craig，      2018

22nd ISMST Congress Beijing, China，             Xing Gengyan,        2019