Shockwave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that jump-starts your body’s ability to regenerate new tissue. It works by delivering a series of sound waves directly to the affected area. It is painless and can be performed in your doctor’s office. Your doctor may recommend this treatment for chronic injuries, such as tennis elbow or shoulder pain, that don’t respond to more traditional treatments.
The treatment also works on a number of other conditions such as coccydynia, calcific tendinitis and plantar fasciitis. The shockwaves stimulate a number of bodily functions, including blood flow and the release of hormones that promote healing. It’s even effective at breaking down calcific deposits embedded in damaged tissue.
Shockwaves work in two ways: First, they help to desensitise nerve endings, which often results in immediate pain reduction. Secondly, they cause mechanical pressure and tension forces that encourage the body’s response by increasing cell membrane permeability, stimulating the body’s metabolism and accelerating the body’s natural healing process. This can lead to increased granulation tissue, breakdown of disorganised tissue and the dissolution of calcific deposits [1].
When it comes to treating chronic injuries, such as tendinitis or osteoarthritis, shockwave therapy has become a very popular treatment method. The treatment has many advantages over other treatments, and is very cost-effective. The treatment has few side effects and patients generally experience significant relief after just one or two sessions.
In addition, there are a number of studies that support the efficacy of shockwave treatment for soft tissue injury. These studies have compared shockwave therapy with other treatment methods, such as physiotherapy or medication. The studies have found that shockwave therapy is more effective in terms of reducing pain and improving function compared with other treatments.
Although shockwave therapy is extremely effective at treating a number of chronic injuries, it should not be used for acute injuries or for sports injuries that require a quick recovery time. It is important to have a thorough medical history before starting treatment, and your doctor will be able to determine whether this is the right therapy for you.
If you are interested in undergoing shockwave therapy, please make an appointment with our clinic or ask your general practitioner to refer you. You will need to have some form of imaging and have undergone a course of conservative treatment, such as physiotherapy, prior to starting shockwave therapy.
Shockwave therapy should be administered regularly for the best results, usually twice a week for four weeks. Treatments last 3-5 minutes per session. The number of treatments required will depend on the condition that you are being treated for and will be discussed with you by your therapist.
You can expect a few mild side effects from the treatment, such as redness and slight pain in the area where the shockwaves were applied. However, these symptoms should quickly resolve as the body begins to heal the site of the injury. If you notice any severe or unusual side effects, please contact your physician immediately.