Shockwave Therapy: An unexplored treatment option for your pain?

When pain and discomfort persist despite a diligent exercise routine, and skilled manual therapy treatments, it may be time to consider another option: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) or Shockwave Therapy.

Shockwave Therapy is a non-invasive treatment used by physiotherapists and chiropractors to help stimulate the body’s natural healing process. It can help reduce pain and promote recovery in persistent soft tissue injuries involving tendons, muscles, ligaments. It can also be used to help break down adhesions and scar tissue.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave is a non-invasive modality that uses high energy sound waves to apply high-frequency mechanical vibrations to the affected tissues. These waves stimulate the body’s healing response and decrease pain by decreasing muscle spasm, increasing circulation, encouraging tissue regeneration, and helping break down damaged tissue that may be contributing to ongoing pain.

 Radial versus Focused Shockwave

 There are two main types of shockwave therapy used in the medical community today. They operate through slightly different mechanisms and can have different applications.

Radial Shockwave (what we use!)

Radial shockwave, also known as soft shocks, is commonly used in physiotherapy and chiropractic clinics like Rebalance Sports Medicine. This type of machine delivers mechanical vibrations that are at the highest intensity and energy density at the transmitter surface. This makes it an ideal treatment when the target tissue is relatively superficial in the body, ideal for conditions like plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer’s elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, and general muscle tension. It is safe, effective, and non-invasive.

Focused Shockwave

Also known as hard shocks, focused shockwave can penetrate deeper in the tissue than radial shockwave. This type of shockwave was first used in hospitals for non-invasive breakdown of kidney stones and gallstones, but has recently become more commonly used in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries as well. Focused shockwave can be better than radial shockwave in the treatment of conditions like poorly healing fractures (non-union fractures) that require deeper penetration.

What Conditions Can ESWT Help Treat?

 Radial Shockwave Therapy is commonly used for persistent tendon and soft tissue conditions, including:

• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Calcific shoulder tendinitis
• Shin splints
• Gluteal tendinopathy (lateral hip pain)
• Hamstring tendinopathy
• Chronic scar tissue or tight muscle “knots”
• And many more….

Is Shockwave Right for You?

Shockwave Therapy is often considered when symptoms are persistent and have not responded well to other conservative management techniques. During your assessment, your physiotherapist or chiropractor will take a thorough history including a detailed account of your symptoms and goals and perform a thorough physical assessment to help determine whether shockwave therapy is right for you.

Once you start shockwave treatment, it is generally recommended that it be applied once per week for at least three treatment sessions. The great news is that some patients report an improvement in pain in as little as one treatment session. Shockwave therapy should always be combined with exercise for most types of injuries and pain conditions.

Ready to learn more?

Book a complimentary call to speak with one of our physiotherapists or chiropractors to see if Shockwave Therapy could be part of your personalized treatment plan.