Shockwave Therapy

ABOUT SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Your Body, Our Priority

Shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive and evidence-based treatment modality for tendon issues.

Shockwave therapy or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) works by delivering impulses of energy, targeted to specific damaged tissue. This increases the blood flow within the affected area, reducing pain, stimulating cell regeneration and healing.

SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

Useful Information & Statistics

A treatment probe head is pressed on to the affected area and the shock waves are delivered through the skin down to the affected region. The pulses are administered through the skin as a shockwave that radiates inside the injured tissue as an aspherical ‘radial’ wave. These radial shockwaves initiate an inflammatory-like response of the injured tissue and prompts the body to respond naturally by increasing blood circulation, the number of blood vessels and metabolism of the injured tissue. Therefore, promoting healing of the injured tissue

70%

Research shows thats ESWT has been effective in reducing pain and increasing function associated with tendon pain.

N.I.C.E.

Shockwave Therapy is backed by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) which inform clinical practice throughout the UK.

6-8 weeks

Most patient will experience a significant reduction of pain between 6-8 weeks.

4-6 sessions

The clinical indicator for ESWT to be the most effective for our patients is between 4-6 weekly sessions of Shockwave Therapy.

TREATMENT AREAS & CONDITIONS

Used for Muscle | Tendon | Bone Issues

Shockwave Therapy is used as an effective treatment for the following regions and conditions.

This can be a very successful second line treatment modality for patients who have failed to respond to appropriate physiotherapy or other conservative treatments. Shockwave Therapy allows the tendon to become less painful but is most effective in conjunction with loading exercises.

Shockwave Therapy has been proved to be an effective treatment modality in the treatment of conditions such as:

Tendon issues such as the achilles tendon, tibias posterior and other tendons of the foot and ankle. With some papers citing an 84% improvement.

Shockwave Therapy can be an effective modality in treating conditions such as:

Patellar and quadriceps tendinopathy. Evidence suggests if can be effective in up to 76% of cases of patellar tendinopathy (Jumper’s knee).

Shockwave Therapy can be an effective modality in treating conditions such as:

Tendinopathies of the hip such as gluteus medius tendinopathy, proximal and distal hamstring tendinopathy. There is also evidence to suggest it can be effective in treating avascular necrosis of the femoral head.

Shockwave Therapy can be an effective modality with the following shoulder and elbow conditions such as:

Tennis or Golfer’s elbowCalcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff (shoulder), adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)

Shockwave Therapy can be an effective modality with the following bone injuries such as:

Stress Fractures, stress reactions and conditions like medial tibial stress syndrome (MTSS) otherwise known as shin splints.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The answers to your most frequent questions

When should I consider having Shockwave Therapy?

You may already be in treatment and your physiotherapist has recommended it for you. Or a referring consultant, specialists or other healthcare practitioners we work with may refer you.

Shockwave Therapy can be a very successful second line treatment for patients who fail to respond to appropriate physiotherapy or other conservative treatments. Tendons have a notoriously poor blood supply therefore can take months and even years to fully recover from.

Shockwave Therapy is a minimally invasive treatment that can facilitate the recovery process to get patients out of pain and increase overall function.

Does my private medical insurance cover Shockwave Therapy?

The short answer is yes. However, if your therapist indicates a course of Shockwave Therapy is indicated, they may ask you to confirm this with your insurance company. They may give you a separate authorisation code to cover you as this will be regarded as a specialist treatment.

What should I do following my shockwave therapy treatment?

Following a shockwave treatment your physiotherapist will advise that you do not take any anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen or Nparoxen for 48 hours, as it will potentially lessen the treatment benefits. Shockwave stimulates a new healing response i.e. it is a pro-inflammatory treatment and so we do not want to inhibit this process. If you feel any discomfort following treatment, we advise that you can take paracetamol, or you can use ice on the area. Your Physiotherapist may also ask you to refrain from completing impact exercises, such as running or your rehabilitation exercises for 24 hours post treatment. This is to allow maximal effects of the treatment to take affect.

How long does it take for Shockwave Therapy to take affect?

After your first appointment, shockwave therapy works to desensitise the affected tendon or region. As Shockwave Therapy allows the tendon to become less painful, this allows your treating Physiotherapist to adjust and increase the settings for it to become more effective.

Furthermore, the shock waves cause controlled micro-trauma (microscopic damage) to the affected region which encourages a process called angiogenesis, where therefore by increasing the blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area. This will ‘breakdown’ poor quality tissue and calcifications, and encourage a healing process to return the tissue to its desired form.

What are the potential side-effects of Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave Therapy is non-invasive and generally a safe procedure. However, in rare circumstances there are some potential side effects such as redness, tenderness, a temporary increase in discomfort, and bruising of the area being treated. You may experience in very rare circumstances a tendon rupture.

Can Shockwave Therapy be uncomfortable?

Shockwave therapy can be uncomfortable and sometimes some pain can be experienced. The process is designed to deliver energy waves to create a new healing process in the damaged tissue. Essentially, this causes micro-trauma to the tissue and so the treatment is likely to cause some discomfort or pain at the injury site.

The level of discomfort depends on the type and site of injury, and how painful or tender the area is before commencing the treatment. Since the treatment only lasts about 5-10 minutes, most patients can tolerate the treatment well.

Your physiotherapist is in control of the intensity of the machine and will encourage feedback throughout your session to make sure you tolerate the treatment to get the desired effect.

What are the contra-indications for Shockwave Therapy?

The treatment of Shockwave therapy will not be used in various circumstances, such as if you are pregnant, over major blood vessels and nerves, if you have a pacemakers or have other implanted devices, open wounds, joint replacements,
blood clotting disorders such as thrombosis, infection, or cancerous tissues.

How much does Shockwave therapy cost?

Shockwave Therapy costs can be found at the following link on our pricing page.

The recommended amount of session is approximately 4-6 sessions, we offer discounted packages, details can be found also on our pricing page.

Should you have any questions or would like to book appointment please call 0207 870 0313 or email info@physioonthegreen.com

Meet Our Team

Our physiotherapists have years of experience and have undertaken specialist training in shockwave therapy to be able to deliver the latest treatment modalities to our patients.

Shockwave Therapy will be administered by of one of our experienced Physiotherapists below.