Shockwave Therapy

 

Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a relatively new, exciting treatment. Its non-invasive and can be used when chronic symptoms have persisted for more than 3 months and have not responded to conservative treatments, such as physiotherapy, activity modification, ice therapy, orthotics, painkillers, and steroid injection.

The treatment stimulates an inflammatory-like response by your body in the tissue that is being treated. There is an increase in blood flow and metabolism to the injured area. This in turn accelerates the body’s own healing processes. The shockwaves break down injured tissue and calcifications. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has deemed this procedure safe. Studies have shown this treatment to be between 50% to 70% effective. A course of Shockwave treatment normally requires one treatment per week for 4-8 consecutive weeks.

What shockwave can treat

  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Patella tendon pain
  • Rotator cuff shoulder pain
  • Tennis or golfers elbow
  • Heel spurs
  • Insertional tendon pain
  • Chronic tendinopathies like Achilles or Gluteal tendons
  • Medial tibial stress syndrome

NICE guidelines and research 

  • In one study looking at treating Achilles tendon pain, 75% of patients were very satisfied (Edison Antonio Serrano et al, International congress of the international society for medical shockwave treatment, 2013)
  • In another study on effectiveness for plantar fasciitis 72.1% of participants had a decrease in pain ( Ludger Gerdesmeyer MD et al, Journal for sports medicine, 2008)
  • A study looking at tennis elbow found 64.2% of the patients were free of complaints 6 months after treatment (Edison Antonio Serrano et al, International congress of the international society for medical shockwave treatment, 2013)
  • nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg311 NICE Plantar Fasciitis ESWT Patient Information leaflet
  • nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg311/resources/treating-chronicplantarfasciitis-usingshockwave-therapy-pdf-312696253 NICE Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for Achilles Tendinopathy http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg571 NICE Achilles Tendinopathy ESWT Patient Information leaflet
  • nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg571/resources/extracorporealshockwavetherapy-for-achilles

 

Call or email me jakblack16@gmail.com / 07974 005676 for more information