Shock Wave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is an innovative modality of treatment for musculoskeletal conditions which has been developed within the 30 years. It presents as an additional treatment technique to further enhance client recovery from specific conditions (as described below). A comprehensive assessment is typically carried out before determining whether a client is eligible for the treatment.

How it works?

By placing a hand-held transmitter on the patient’s body, radial shockwaves are transmitted through the body. These radial pressure waves act as a strong stimulus to assist in:

• Pain relief by stimulating the body’s natural endorphins
• Promoting increased localised blood flow to enhance recovery from injury
• Mobility through soft tissue and joint manipulation

When delivered by a qualified health professional, this is a generally safe mode of treatment besides the rare instances of temporary tingles, aches, bruising and swelling.

Indications

Despite shockwave therapy being a relatively new technique, research has shown promising results in specific conditions. It presents as a safer and more conservative approach when compared to other more invasive treatments such as cortisone injections and surgery. Conditions where shockwave therapy has shown to be beneficial for pain relief, improving movement and/or increasing recovery include:

• Myofascial trigger points
• Muscle inactivity
• Frozen shoulder
• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles and patellar tendinopathy
• Golfer’s and tennis elbow
• Rotator cuff conditions
• Osgood-Schlatter’s Syndrome