Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is targeted treatment designed to treat specific conditions and optimise recovery. It is used in conjunction with specific rehabilitation and has been shown to be effective across a wide range of conditions.
How Does It Work?
Shockwave therapy is a powerful and highly evidence based treatment that is used to treat injury and pain. It works by delivering shockwaves causing a mini sonic boom inside tissues such as muscle, tendon, ligament and bone. Injured tissue metabolises slowly and increases healing time. Shockwave therapy kick-starts and stimulates cellular regeneration and metabolism, causes vasodilation which increases blood flow and stimulates substance P locally reducing pain. This speeds up healing which is particularly useful in hard to treat, degenerative or chronic conditions that may not be responding to regular therapy, often prompting therapists and doctors to refer to our clinic. Shockwave therapy is also used to destroy calcific deposits, known as calcium hydroxyapatite, that can sometimes form in and around tendons.
What Conditions Can Shockwave Therapy Treat?
We have worked with many clients over the years and seen exceptional results from shockwave therapy when treating the following conditions:
- Plantafasciitis
- Calcific tendonitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Patella tendonitis / jumpers knee
- ITB syndrome / runners knee
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
- Bone and stress fractures
- Acute injuries
- Knee and joint arthritis
- Osteitis pubis — groin pain
- Haglund’s deformity
- Insertional Achilles pain
- Tibialis Posterior tendon syndrome/ankle sprain
- Morton's neuroma
- Medial tibial stress syndrome/shin splints
- Tib Post/Peroneal tendons
- Avascular necrosis of hip
- Trigger finger
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Coccydynia
Are There Any Risks?
There are very few risks with Shockwave therapy. We use a detailed assessment and screening process to ensure it is safe. You may experience slight aching after treatment. If you are on blood thinning medication or long term steroids then this would need to be discussed prior to any treatment.
How Many Shockwave Therapy Sessions Do I Need?
It depends on the outcome of the assessment. The average number of sessions is 4 for a moderate tendon condition. For calcific tendons, these tend to require 6 to 8 sessions due to the nature of this more difficult condition. Bone healing can also take up to 8 sessions. More stubborn and long term conditions will need 6-8 session.
Does It Hurt?
Shockwave is most effective when it is rated as 4-6/10 on a VAS pain scale. However, the therapy is delivered at a tolerable level for the patient.