Shockwave Therapy
What is shockwave therapy used for?
Shockwave Therapy is clinically proven and highly effective treatment for long standing tendon and soft tissue problems. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has reviewed Shockwave Therapy and has approved guidelines for its application. It is found to be very effective for the treatment of:
Achilles tendonitis, Plantar fasciitis/heel pain, Tennis elbow/golfers elbow, Patellar tendonitis, Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (lateral hip), Other tendon problems, Shin splints (Medial tibial stress syndrome), Non-union fractures (5th meta-tarsal, Scaphoid).
Shockwave Therapy has been found to be effective where other therapies have failed. We see a lot of patients that have tried traditional osteopathy, Chiropractic or physiotherapy but have not improved.
Shockwave is non-invasive and carries no risk and should be considered before Steroid injections or surgery
What does shockwave therapy do?
It Reduces pain, Reduces excessive muscle tone, New blood vessel formation, Resolves inflammation, Stimulates repair processes by speeding up the healing rate, Stimulates the growth of new tendon cells, Breaks up calcium deposits in the tissues.
Shockwave Therapy treatment is an acoustic pressure wave similar to that created when a plane breaches the sound barrier or the sound of thunder.
Long term inflammation doesn’t lead to complete repair in the tissues and in fact can lead to some tissue destruction. There is no end point to what should be a normal body process. Shockwave Therapy treatment causes a new minor injury and stimulates the chemicals and cells involved in inflammation so that a new inflammatory response begins but ultimately stops when the repair is complete.
What Does Shockwave Therapy Do?
It Reduces pain, Reduces excessive muscle tone, New blood vessel formation, Resolves inflammation, Stimulates repair processes by speeding up the healing rate, Stimulates the growth of new tendon cells, Breaks up calcium deposits in the tissues.
Shockwave Therapy treatment is an acoustic pressure wave similar to that created when a plane breaches the sound barrier or the sound of thunder. Long term inflammation doesn’t lead to complete repair in the tissues and in fact can lead to some tissue destruction. There is no end point to what should be a normal body process. Shockwave Therapy treatment causes a new minor injury and stimulates the chemicals and cells involved in inflammation so that a new inflammatory response begins but ultimately stops when the repair is complete.
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Frequently asked questions
Is shockwave therapy painful?
Radial Shockwave treatment can be a bit painful, Focused treatment is less so and much better tolerated. As the treatment progresses the pain lessens considerably. Some patients describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful but we have the ability to lower the settings if the discomfort is too much to handle.
Generally there is a marked reduction in pain after the treatment. Some patients find that they develop a dull ache a few hours after treatment which may last a day or so.
Can I have shockwave therapy?
Unfortunately we cannot give you shockwave:
- If you have had a Cortico-Steroid injection in the area in past 3 months
- If you are pregnant
- Over Lung tissue
- If you have a Cardiac pacemaker
- Over or near bone growth centres until bone growth is complete (<18years old)
- Malignancy is known to be present in or near the treatment area
- If you have open wounds, skin rashes, swollen, inflamed, or infected areas
- Over ischemic tissues in individuals with vascular disease
- If you have an Infection at the treatment site
How many sessions do I need?
We are unique in Cornwall using a combination of Focused and Radial shockwave in treatment.
We recommend a minimum of 3 treatments to start, spaced weekly.
For conditions lasting less than 1 year this may be sufficient.
If it has gone on for longer than 1 year, we assess and discuss progress after each further session and discontinue treatment if we are not seeing results.
The number of treatments may depend on the length of time you have had your condition and other factors that aggravate and maintain it.
Prices
Single sessions – £95
(Men’s health sessions are priced differently – see Men’s health under treatments available above)
Most insurance companies will contribute to shockwave treatment – it may be worth checking.