Extracorporeal generated shock waves have been introduced for medical therapy approximately 20 years ago to disintegrate kidney stones. Since this time shock waves have changed the treatment of urolithiasis substantially. Today shock waves are the first choice to treat kidney and ureteral stones. A new indication in Urology is the shock wave treatment of IPP where first clinical investigations show promising results. Urology is not the only medical field for shock waves in medicine. Meanwhile shock waves have used in Orthopedics and Traumatology to treat insertion tendinitis, non- or delayed unions, avascular necrosis of the head of femur and other necrotic bone alteration. Another field of shock wave application is the treatment of tendons, ligaments and bones on horses in veterinary medicine. The idea of the shock wave therapy for orthopedic diseases is the stimulation of healing processes in tendons, surrounding tissue and bones. This is a completely different approach compared to urology where shock waves were used for disintegration. This paper gives an overview of basic physical principles of shock waves, history and basic research of shock wave application in medicine.