What Is Shockwave Therapy?
If you’ve ever struggled with a sports injury or dealt with an ache that just wouldn’t mend, your body might have benefited from extra help during the healing process. Shockwave therapy can offer such help, jump-starting the body’s ability to regenerate new tissue. It also decreases your pain by directly stimulating your nerves at the site of the injury. Though the name of the treatment makes it sound painful, it’s only mildly uncomfortable for most people.
It’s often prescribed as a treatment for patients who have sports injuries like Achilles tendonitis, golfer’s elbow, tennis elbow, or pulled hamstring. It’s also administered to patients who experience pain in their soft tissues, such as that caused by plantar fasciitis — a painful condition that affects the heels of the feet.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?
During treatment, a handheld device delivers shockwaves to the injured area. These waves:
- Increase blood flow to the targeted tissue.
- Stimulate the growth of new blood vessels.
- Break down scar tissue and promote tissue regeneration.
- Reduce pain by modulating nerve activity.
Conditions Treated with Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is commonly used to treat:
- Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
- Achilles tendonitis
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
- Patellar tendinitis (jumper's knee)
- Chronic low back pain (studies ongoing)
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
- Non-invasive: No needles or incisions.
- Outpatient procedure: No hospital stay required.
- Minimal discomfort: Often described as a tingling sensation.
- Faster recovery time: Compared to traditional therapies.
- Improved mobility and function.
- Long-lasting pain relief.
What to Expect During Shockwave Therapy
- A consultation with a doctor or physical therapist to discuss your condition and suitability for shockwave therapy.
- The treatment area will be cleaned and a gel applied for better transmission of the shockwaves.
- The therapist will administer the shockwaves using a handheld device, adjusting the intensity based on your tolerance.
- A session typically lasts for 10-15 minutes.
- Multiple sessions (which varies depending upon severity and area of treatment) are often recommended and spaced a few days apart.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
If you are experiencing chronic pain in tendons, ligaments, or other soft tissues, shockwave therapy may be a good option. It's important to note that shockwave therapy may not be suitable for everyone, and some underlying health conditions may make you ineligible. Please contact our Chiropractor, Dr. Sean by text for more information or feel free to select the new patient scheduling option for evaluation.