Shockwave Therapy

 

What Is Shockwave therapy?

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a treatment where a machine delivers acoustic shockwaves to an injured area in order to speed up the healing process. It is a treatment that has become more popular in recent years as the research has proven its effectiveness.

Shockwave is mostly used for injuries that are chronic in nature and have been going on for months, like Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, and it has proven successful in injuries that haven’t responded to other forms of treatment.

What Does Shockwave Therapy Do?

The Shockwave machine delivers the shock via and applicator that is applied to the skin by the physio. The impulses pass through the skin into the injured tissue where they prompt an inflammatory like response in the tissue, that is increased blood flow and metabolism to kickstart the healing process.

What Is The Success Rate Of Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave has a strong body of evidence to support it’s use. Current evidence shows that it has an 84% success rate in numerous conditions.

At The Physiotherapy Place, we always combine shockwave treatment with other forms of treatment that are needed in order to ensure optimal recovery. This may include joint mobilisation, soft tissue release, and dry needling. Taking this approach increases the chances of a successful outcome.

What Does Shockwave Feel Like?

The impulses created by the applicator tend to be a little uncomfortable but not painful. For this reason, for your first treatment the intensity is slightly lower and treatment is spread over a larger area. As you get used to it, the shockwave intensity can be increased and zoned into the specific area that needs treated.

What injuries do we use shockwave for?

Shockwave is mostly used for soft tissue injuries, but can also be used to treat injured bones and joints. Some common injuries that shockwave can treat are:

What Will I Feel After Shockwave Treatment?

You may feel slightly sore after shockwave as it triggers a tissue healing response, so mild swelling or redness is not uncommon. It is recommended to rest from physical activity for 48 hours after treatment to let the input of the shockwave take effect.

Many people feel an immediate improvement after treatment, for others it takes a few sessions to feel the benefit.

How Many Sessions Will I Need And How Much Will It Cost?

The guidelines for shockwave treatment indicate that anywhere between 3-8 sessions are needed to have the desired effect. Treatment takes place at weekly intervals and the number of sessions will depend on the injury.

Up to date prices for shockwave treatment can be found here.