What is Shockwave Therapy?

Extracorpeal Shockwave Therapy, or ESWT is a non-invasive device that delivers acoustic energy to injured or painful tissues in the body. Using an applicator which looks like a gun on the surface of the skin, the machine is able to transmit low-energy sound waves through the skin and deeper layers of soft tissue, such as tendon, muscle or fascia. (Extracorpeal just means external, or outside of the body).

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Doctors have used shockwave therapy to treat and break up kidney stones since the 1970's but increasingly since the 1990's and increasingly over the past 20 years, shockwave is being used for musculoskeletal issues such as achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, other tendinopathies and more chronic injuries. It is now also being used by elite footballers and athletes for muscle strains with excellent results.

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It is a very safe treatment with few side effects. The main effects you may feel are a strong tapping due to the mechanism of the device producing the treatment energy. This is usually comparable to a sports or deep tissue discomfort and and is always guided by you. There may be some skin redness and some residual aching or soreness after the treatment which will resolve.​

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What Are The Benefits and How Does it Work?

• Non invasive and very safe

• Reduces pain through inflammatory pain signals:

  • Up to a 50% reduction in pain depending on the condition. This may last a few hours or up to 2-3 days

  • This is from a hyperstimulation of nerve fibres which resets your pain signals, especially for chronic conditions (if you have had pain over 3 months)

• Reduces inflammation

• Breaks down disorganised tissue and calcifications which are related to tendinopathies and similar tissues

• Speeds up healing through by regeneration of tendon, muscle and other soft tissues

  • Stimulates bodies own healing process and promotes angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) to provide the required oxygen and nutrients to the healing area

• Reduced injury recovery time and minimal "downtime" after treatments

• Always combined with physiotherapy exercises for combined rehabilitation, strengthening and the optimal treatment​​

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What Does it Treat?

Here is a non-exhaustive list of the common conditions that it can be used to treat:​​​

 

• Tendonopathies (previously called tendonitis):

  • Achilles tendinopathy

  • Plantar fasciitis / plantar fasciopathy

  • Shoulder rotator cuff tendinopathies

  • Tennis Elbow (lateral epicondylalgia)

  • Golfer’s Elbow (medial epicondlalgia) 

  • Proximal and distal hamstring tendinopathies

  • Gluteal tendinopathies and bursitis of the hip

  • Patella Tendinopathies (jumper’s knee)

  • Hip adductor tendinopathies

• Myofascial pain, trigger points and muscle tension which has lasted more than 6 weeks

• Chronic pain (musculoskeletal pain lasting over 3 months)

• Shin Splints (ATSS) and repetitive stress injuries

• Bursitis or tendinopathy in the hip / chronic lateral hip pain

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

• Osteoarthritis in the knees, hips, or shoulders

• Shoulder rotator cuff injuries

• Calcifications of the shoulder

 

Shockwave is used with excellent outcomes for chronic pain i.e. pain that has lasted for more than 3 months including the above conditions but more recently it is being used for muscle strains and more acute injuries, especially in elite sport.

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If your injury is under 6 weeks old, we recommend booking a physiotherapy initial appointment first and we can discuss treatment options with you and treat with shockwave in future sessions as required.

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How Many Sessions Will I Need?

​The scientific research recommends 3 sessions over a 3-6 week period initially, with 4-6 sessions in total for treatment. This varies a little depending on condition, age, response to treatment and other factors but we can develop a suitable plan for your treatment in partnership with you.

 

This does depend on each individual case but we recommend a minimum of 3 initial sessions in a reasonable time frame to ensure you get an adequate treatment dose and ensure effectiveness.​​

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Want to Book or Find Out More?​​​​​​​​
Our clinic offers radial shockwave therapy (ESWT) from qualified physiotherapists for the local areas of Rickmansworth, Croxley, Chorleywood, Northwood, Watford and general Hertfordshire area.

If you wish to book a shockwave appointment or have any further questions about this treatment option, please book online or contact us using the links below.