Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy (also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy [ECST] or Rapid Pressure Wave [RPW] Therapy) is a non-invasive treatment done for lingering injuries or pain. Shockwave therapy involves a series of low energy acoustic wave pulsations that are directly applied into soft-tissue that is injured, scarred, or contains adhesions, is painful, or inflamed, through the skin. The goal of shockwave therapy is to trigger the body's own natural healing response by increasing local blood flow, breaking apart scar tissue and adhesions, and reducing muscle spasms.

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How does shockwave treatment work?
Shockwave therapy, while relatively new, is an effective treatment option for chronic pain showing drastic improvements in pain. Commonly used for physiotherapy, with a machine, the shockwaves are directed through the skin into the tissue using an applicator. Since shockwaves are characterised by a jump change in pressure, high amplitude and non-periodicity, they are able to provide the following benefits when used therapeutically:​

• Cell level change – shockwaves have been found to affect the tissues at a cellular level by boosting the release of chemicals which prevent pain and inflammation.

• Blood flow change - shockwaves create a revascularisation effect which aids the healing and regeneration process.

• Muscle tone reduction – shockwave therapy can help reduce the trigger points, spasm and contracting of muscles due to chronic conditions.

• Pan reduction – the shockwave's pulses have been known to affect the nerve fibres that transmit pain signals to the brain, relieving pain.

If you are deemed a candidate for shockwave therapy, the actual application of the shockwave lasts 3-5 minutes in which certain pain areas are targeted with the applicator using a gel. During the therapy, you will feel mild pain but be able to tolerate it. When combined with traditional physiotherapy, shockwave treatment can resolve all symptoms of pain.

Many conditions require as little as three shockwave treatment sessions, however, more chronic or complicated conditions may require more treatments to get the full benefit. How many you will need will depend on the severity of the condition.

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What conditions can be treated with shockwave treatment?
Musculoskeletal disorders such as tendinitis, tendinopathy and tendon tears, ligament injuries, delayed bone healing and chronic bone disorders can be treated using this treatment method. The following conditions may benefit from shockwave therapy in addition to physiotherapy:

• Feet - heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis

• Elbow - tennis and golfers elbow

• Shoulder - calcific tendinosis of rotator cuff muscles

• Knee - patellar tendonitis

• Hip- Bursitis

• Lower leg - shin splints

• Upper leg - Iliotibial band friction syndrome

• Back pain - lumbar and cervical spine regions and chronic muscular pain