Shockwave therapy is an innovative, non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to help the body heal quickly from tendon and ligament injuries. The main benefits are pain relief and restoration of function to an injured area.
Whether these injuries are acute or chronic, this therapy has been proven to be effective and safe. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of shockwave therapy and how it can help you heal faster!
What is shockwave therapy?
Initially used in medicine to break up kidney stones, shockwave therapy uses low energy pulses which have been clinically proven to stimulate healing and reduce pain. These pulses are mechanical rather than electrical.
The use of shockwave therapy for tendon issues is well supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Randomised, double-blinded clinical trials support the use of shockwave therapy for injuries including
- Tennis elbow : This stubborn elbow condition which usually arises from repetitive movements can lead to significant implications for work and quality of life. A course of shockwave therapy has been shown to be up to 75% effective at completely treating tennis elbow.
- Plantar fasciitis : Recent studies have shown that a course of 3 or 4 shockwave treatments completely treats this debilitating and painful condition up to 88% of the time.
- Patellar tendinopathy : 60-90% of patients with a painful patella tendinopathy reported a full recovery after a short course of shockwave therapy.
Other conditions that shockwave can treat include:
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Myofascial pain
• Golfer’s elbow
• Biceps tendinopathy
• Shoulder rotator cuff injury
• Shin splints
• Hip bursitis
• Muscle tears and strains
How does shockwave therapy work?
Shockwave machines deliver acoustic waves into the target area down to a pre-specified depth. The interaction these waves have with the tissues stimulates tissue repair, reduced pain and increased mobility. These benefits are down to three key changes caused by the therapy:
- Formation of new blood vessels: One reason tendon issues can take so long to recover is the poor blood supply to the area. Shockwave therapy creates microruptures in the capillaries leading to the creation of new vessels. This allows the body to better introduce the nutrients required for repair.
- Stimulation of Collagen Production: Collagen forms the building blocks of connective tissues such as ligaments and tendons. In order for these tissues to effectively repair, new collagen needs to be created. Shockwave therapy accelerates the production of collagen.
- Reduction of Chronic Inflammation: Chronic, long-term inflammation is one of the key factors behind the long recovery times and high levels of pain associated with tendon issues. Shockwave therapy works to increase mast call activity in and around the affected area, essentially speeding up the inflammatory process, so that you heal faster.
What can I expect at a shockwave therapy appointment?
Our therapists use the highest standard of shockwave machine available. Treatments are administered by fully trained and insured musculoskeletal experts. Osteopath Jonathan Boxall is now offering the therapy at our new Honiton clinic. If Honiton isn’t your local clinic, drop us a line to find out where we can offer treatment with this therapy.
Shockwave appointments last around 20 minutes although the actual therapy can be over in just 5 minutes in some cases. During your appointment, your therapist will likely provide additional treatment such as gentle soft tissue massage and joint mobilisation. You’ll also be given specific and tailored rehabilitation exercises and advice.
