Shockwave Therapy Treatment

Shockwavetherapy is a non-surgical treatment that delivers energy impulses targeted tospecific damaged tissue within the abnormal tendon. Electrocarporeal shockwavetherapy (ESWT) is considered safe, non-invasive, easy to apply andwell-tolerated by most patients.

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What is shockwave therapy used for?

Shockwavetherapy is primarily used in treatments of common musculoskeletal conditions:

·      Painfulshoulders

·      Golfer'selbow

·      Tenniselbow

·      Plantarfasciitis

·      Chronictendinopathy

·      Chronicpain

·      Hippain

·      Achillestendinopathy

·      Hamstringtendinopathy

·      Jumper’sknee

·      Patellartendinopathy

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Contraindication:

·      Pregnancy

·      Pacemakersor other implanted devices

·      Openwounds

·      Jointreplacement

·      Epiphysis

·      Bloodclotting disorders, including Thrombosis

·      Infection

·      Cancertissues

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How does shockwave therapy work?

Shockwave therapy is a treatment which involves passinghigh-frequency acoustic pulses through the skin and into soft tissue or bone.It is a non-invasive technique, often used as an alternative to surgery, whichcan be used to treat a phenomenally wide range of conditions from plantarfasciitis to bone fractures and even erectile dysfunction.

Radialshockwaves,also called radial pressure waves, are usually created pneumatically. Pressurebuilt up by compressed air or gas is used to push an element of the device intoanother at a very high speed. The collision of the two elements creates theshockwave over the patient’s skin, which can be heard as an audible click. Thisis then repeated at a high rate.

Radialshockwaves are the original type of shockwave used in orthopaedics. The radialshockwaves are strongest at their source and disperse as they are directed intothe tissue. They have a maximum penetrating depth of 50mm, and so are usuallyused to treat shallow or superficial injuries.

Radial or focused, the shockwaves are emitted by the handpiece attachedto the shockwave machine and pass through the skin into the affected tissue.The momentum of these waves creates slight movements in the cells they pass,stretching and deforming them and temporarily increasing their permeability toions and certain molecules. Substances such as nitric oxide (a vasodilator) andsubstance P (a growth factor and pain moderator) are also released, among otherbeneficial chemicals.

Shockwaves’ therapeutic effect mostly comes from increases in bloodcirculation in the tissue, meaning more substances involved in repair can bedelivered to the affected site, as well as enhanced metabolic activity, leadingto the onset of the healing process.

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How long does each session last?

An averagetreatment will last up to 15-30 min including assessment and treatment.