Shock wave therapy, also known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), is a physiotherapy technique using high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing and reduce pain in soft tissues and bones. It’s non-invasive and can address conditions like tendinopathy, ligament injuries, and scar tissue.
How Shockwave Therapy Works:
- Stimulates Healing: Shock waves induce microtrauma, triggering the body’s natural healing response by promoting blood circulation, stimulating cell repair (like fibroblasts and osteoblasts), and potentially breaking down scar tissue.
- Reduces Pain: By stimulating the release of pain-relieving substances and potentially addressing nerve sensitivity, shock waves can effectively reduce pain in the affected area.
- Promotes Tissue Regeneration: The stimulation of new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) and tissue regeneration can contribute to faster recovery and improved function.
- Addresses Chronic Conditions: It’s particularly effective for chronic conditions that haven’t responded well to other therapies, such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendinitis.
Conditions Treated:
- Tendinopathy: Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendinopathy.
- Ligament and Soft Tissue Injuries: To promote healing and reduce pain in ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissues.
- Chronic Pain: To reduce chronic pain associated with musculoskeletal conditions.
- Fracture Nonunion: To stimulate bone healing in cases of non-healing fractures.
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tennis elbow
- Heel pain
- Heel spurs
- Frozen shoulder
- Morton’s neuroma
- Calcific rotator cuff tendinitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Tendonitis
- Trigger point therapy
- Jumper’s knee
Benefits:
- Non-invasive: No surgery or anesthesia is required.
- Effective Pain Relief: Reduces pain and improves overall function.
- Promotes Healing: Stimulates the body’s natural healing processes.
- Reduces Scar Tissue: Can break down scar tissue and improve mobility.
