Shockwave Therapy
Enhance Physiotherapy is pleased to offer our patients access to Shockwave Therapy as part of our comprehensive services.
Shockwave Therapy, or Radial Shockwave Therapy, provides treatment to patients suffering from a range of chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis and Achilles Tendinopathy that are notoriously difficult to resolve. Shockwave Therapy is the effective and evidence based treatment for stubborn pain associated with tendon or soft tissue injury.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave treatment was originally developed to treat kidney stones and is known as Lithotripsy treatment in this area of medicine. It was developed to provide an alternative to surgery in these patients. Some patients who had their kidney stones successfully treated also reported improvement in chronic musculoskeletal conditions in regions which were in the pathway of the shockwave treatment.
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment using radial pressure waves that travel through the skin to stimulate pain relief and tissue repair. This treatment helps reset and enhance healing patterns, while reducing pain and improving function and muscle recovery. Shockwave helps increase metabolism by influencing tissues at a cellular level, improving blood circulation and promoting tissue healing and regeneration.
What conditions does it treat?
Shockwave Therapy has attracted several clinical research trials which have supported its use in the treatment of patients with the following conditions:
- Plantar Fasciitis/heel spur (calcaneal spur)
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Gluteal tendinopathy
- Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
- Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
- Patella Tendinopathy
- Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome
- Bursitis
- Runners Knee
- Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome
- Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
- Greater Trochanteric Syndrome
- Tennis elbow / Golfers Elbow (medial or lateral epicondylitis)
- Other forms of insertional tendinopathy
- Other musculoskeletal problems:
- Muscle strains
- Calcified Haematomas (“corkies”)
- Shin splints
- Osteitis pubis
- Recalcitrant trigger points
- Osgood Schlatter Disease
Impressive results have been reported in cases that have been recalcitrant and failed to respond to conventional treatment regimes. What sets this treatment apart from traditional treatments is that it treats the musculoskeletal pathology instead of just offering symptomatic relief.
Shockwave Therapy has been at the forefront in treating these conditions and pain in the United States, Canada, and the Eastern States of Australia and is proven to work. Shockwave is a safe, non-invasive treatment that reduces pain and promotes tendon regeneration and re-modeling.
A shockwave session will involve your Enhance Physiotherapist doing a full assessment to ensure that Shockwave Therapy will work well for you. Your physiotherapist will pass the shockwave applicator over the injured area twice then also over the associated muscle. While the shockwave is being applied some discomfort will be felt, however patient often feel an immediate reduction of pain in the first 24 hours after treatment.
A Shockwave Therapy treatment plan usually requires once weekly sessions for 6 weeks. Obviously factors will affect the treatment length such as how long you have had the condition, other health issues and musculoskeletal contributions. A Shockwave Therapy session at Enhance Physiotherapy also includes strengthening and stretches to ensure a 100% recovery and reducing the risk of reoccurrence.
Shockwave Therapy, as part of a comprehensive Physiotherapy Treatment Program, may be the solution for your condition. A session is an extra $55.00. Please discuss this with our reception staff to get a full understanding.
For the interested reader
There are a number of trials, including randomized controlled trials, which support the use of Shockwave Therapy:
- Rompe et al 2008, Eccentric Loading Compared with Shockwave treatment for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy, Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (America) 2008; 90: 52-61
- Han et al 2009, Effect of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy on Cultured Tenocytes, Foot and Ankle International, 30: 93-98
- Furia et al 2007, Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy, Current Opinion in Orthopaedics 2007; 18: 101- 111
- Rompe, JD; Radial Shockwave Therapy- Where do we stand today?; Translation from Medical Special, Apr 2006
Book your Enhance Experience online, or call us today to find out if Shockwave Therapy can help you.