Introducing Shockwave Therapy

What are Shockwaves?

Shockwaves are high-energy, audible sound waves which are transmitted into painful areas to accelerate healing by increasing blood flow, putting cells into repair mode.   Shockwave has an analgesic effect and stimulates repair and regeneration.  Shockwaves break down injured tissue and calcifications.

Is Shockwave Therapy safe?

Yes.  It has NICE guidance for a large number of painful tendons, ligaments and muscles indications and is largely risk-free.

Is Shockwave painful?

There may be some discomfort to begin with, however the treatment is delivered with a low amount of energy at first which is increased as you get used to it.  The treatment stimulates and effectively supports the body's self-healing mechanisms and creates an analgesic effect.  Many patients report immediate pain relief following shockwave therapy.   If you experience pain after treatment you may use ordinary pain relief, eg paracetamol.  Do not use anti-inflammatory medication or apply ice to the treated area as both may interfere with the body's self-healing process.

How many sessions are needed?

On average 6 sessions are required.  You will need a full assessment to determine the quantity.  Treatments last between 20-30 minutes.

How successful is the treatment?

It depends on the condition.  Statistics show over 90% of patients experience a reduction in their pain.  The overall success rates for all indications ranges between 60% to 80% depending on the conditions treated.

Can Shockwave treat old/persistent injuries?

Shockwave can treat both long-term chronic conditions and newer injuries, there is a great deal of evidence to show that Shockwave can achieve great results even with historical conditions.

What are the advantages with Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is recommended for patients who have already had previous conservative therapies that have provided little or no clinical benefit.  Recent evidence shows that Shockwave therapy can also be used for acute soft tissue disorders as well as chronic conditions, whether you have tried other conventional therapies or not.

Contraindications

If any of the following apply to you then please let us know.

• If you are pregnant or trying to conceive
• If you take anti-coagulants such as Warfarin
• If you are under 18 years of age
• Cardiac Pacemaker
• Malignant tumours
• Nerve or circulation disorders
• Infection

Many injuries and disorders have been effectively treated with the use of shockwave therapy, including:

• Plantar Fasciitis / Jogger’s heel (heel pain – especially noticed when getting out of bed and throughout the day)

• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (shin splints)

• Patella Tendonitis (jogger’s knee pain due to inflammation around the knee cap)

• Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (hip pain caused by bursitis)

• Myofascial Pain Syndromes (general muscle pains)

• Periarticular Shoulder Pain (pain in the shoulder around the rotator cuff restricting movement - frozen shoulder)

• Chronic Tendinopathy (pain caused by long term inflammation and/or damage to tendons)

• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow / golfer’s elbow)



• Back Pain