Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Benefits of Radial Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy (otherwise known as Extracorporeal Shockwave therapy- ESWT) is an evidence based and highly effective treatment option for tendon pain.  The term shockwave refers to mechanical pressure waves

Current research reports success rates between 65% and 91% in reducing pain after 3-5 sessions with an overall success rate of between 60% to 80% for a range of tendon pathologies.

BENEFITS:

Reduces Pain – Radial shockwave can reduce pain caused by soft tissue, bone and joint injuries. It is also very effective at treating sports and overuse injuries. Shockwave works by desensitising the nerve endings which often gives immediate pain relief.

Increases Blood Flow to the Area – The sound waves stimulate blood flow to the area and cause a small amount of inflammation. The body then works to heal this inflammation, and by doing so, it stimulates the repair and regrowth of cells. Damaged tissues then begin to repair, and hence, reduce your pain.

Trigger New Blood Vessel Growth – The sound waves from shockwave therapy cause micro ruptures in capillaries, tendons and bones, which cause the expression of growth factors. As a result, the arterioles are remodeled, stimulated to grow and new ones are formed. This increases blood supple and oxygenation of the area and supports faster healing.

Breaks Down Scar Tissue – If you have an area of thick, fibrous scar tissue that contributes to your pain, shockwave can help to break this down. Scar tissue causes immobility in the surrounding area, so breaking it down can increase mobility and improve discomfort.

Stimulation of Collagen Production – The stimulation of collagen is necessary for the repair of damaged tissue.

Breaks Down Calcified Tissue – Calcium build up is often the result of micro-tears or trauma. Sound waves from the Radial Shockwave, helps to break down the calcified tissue, allowing for an increase in mobility.

Quick and Easy – Each session of shockwave will only last around 15 minutes and requires you to simply lay still. You may require a few sessions to treat the injury.

Shockwave is always done in Conjunction with Physiotherapy  

Other treatments can include

Massage, loading exercises, ultrasound, activity modification etc, all established during your first visit and continually modified as your rehab progresses.

Below is Luke at Reform Physio demonstrating the use of Radial Shockwave Therapy

Overall, radial shockwave is an effective non-surgical treatment for fast pain relief and mobility restoration. It makes an ideal therapy for speeding up recovery and curing various musculo-skeletal injuries. For more information on how radial shockwave may benefit YOU, please call us on 01799 530650 or email us at info@reformphysio.co.uk.