Shockwave therapy (also called radial shockwave therapy) is a technique that uses high-energy sound waves to help assist the healing process after an injury. Shockwave therapy is used for musculoskeletal injuries, mainly those areas where connective tissues come into contact. It is increasingly proven to be an excellent way to trigger the body’s healing process and reduces pain while restoring movement.
The shockwaves are applied to injury sites to stimulate the breakdown of scar tissues and increase blood flow to reduce inflammation and accelerate the body’s natural healing process.
Shockwave effect on the tissue:
- Scar cell destruction,
- Increase cell membrane permeability.
- increase fibroblast activity, and growth hormone release that helps with repair.
- Increase nitrous oxide production which promotes bone healing, increase blood vessels formation, increase blood flow and decrease inflammation.
- Nerve stimulation helps to improve nerve function, increase blood flow, decrease muscle tension and decrease pain with decrease in production of substance P and calcitonin.
The pressure waves are applied to the treated area for short periods, (5-10 minutes)
Common Conditions Treated by Shockwave Therapy
- Plantar Fasciitis / Heel Pain
- Elbow pain ex. tennis or golfer’s elbow
- Shoulder pain ex. shoulder calcification’s
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Achilles tendon pain
- Patellar tendonitis ex. jumper’s knee or Osgood-Schlatters disease
- Trigger points/muscle tension (Hamstrings, Pecs, rotator cuff)
- Chronic neck and back pain
- Jumpers knee/Osgood Schlatter’s
- Morton’s neuroma
What are the Expected Results?
The benefit is normally experienced after usually only 3 treatments over the span of 2 weeks. It is common to have immediate relief after the treatment, however it can also take up to 4 weeks for pain relief to begin and between 9 to 12 weeks to see complete results. Studies demonstrate the most significant healing is between 6 and 9 weeks. This therapy is shown to have a high success rate in treating chronic tendonitis conditions.