Shockwave Therapy

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is an advanced and super effective treatment choice in orthopaedic and rehabilitation medicine.

We use Focused Shockwave technology that emits high energy acoustic waves (the same type of waves we get from an airplane breaking the sound barrier). The depth and intensity of these powerful waves can be controlled to target an injured or diseased area. The technology has been used since the 1980's to effectively break down kidney stones. Now these shockwaves can be used in orthopaedic medicine to break down scar tissue and calcification in a damaged area, which in chronic cases the body is unable to repair itself. This deliberate targeted "assault" stimulates the body to generate new tissue leading to improved healing, better function and relief of pain.

Benefits of our Shockwave therapy:

• Faster pain relief
• Less downtime
• No drugs
• High clinical success rate
• Faster and most effective treatment
• Non-surgical solution to persistent problems
• Approved by NICE (NHS trusted National Institute of Clinical Excellence) and FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

Medical effects:

• Stimulates "angiogenesis", the formation of tiny new blood vessels. The new blood vessels improve the transport of nutrients, oxygen and repair materials to the injured area.
• Stimulates "neurogenesis", the formation of new nerve cells. Useful in cases of damaged nerve tissue.
• Disintegrates calcification, fibrosis and scar tissue. This can free up muscle, joint and tendon movement and ultimately reduce pain.
• Regenerative effect: activates the body's own stem cells which migrate to the injured area and generate healthy tissue.
• Analgesic effect (takes the pain away), by stimulating the nerve fibres which can block the existing pain.
• Bone healing, by stimulating osteoblasts (bone cells responsible for bone healing and bone production).
• Tendon healing, by stimulating fibroblast cells which are responsible for the healing of collagen
• Anti-inflammatory effect. Breaks the repeated cycle of chronic inflammation and guides healthy inflammation into the remodelling phase of the tissues.

What can be treated with Shockwave?

• Heel pain and plantarfasciitis
• Foot and ankle pain
• Achilles tendon pain
• Shoulder pain
• Hip pain
• Elbow pain (tennis and golfers elbow)
• Knee pain
• Shin splints

Packages of 3-6 sessions depending on your requirements may be purchased following discussion with your physiotherapist. If you would like to discuss this before you even come to the Practice please call and request a chat with one of our clinical staff who will be pleased to talk it through with you.