What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that stimulates soft tissue to help improve pain tolerance and promote the healing process.
It uses strong energy pulses to generate radial shockwaves that stimulates the tissue in the area for a short period of time. The radial shockwaves create micro-cavitation bubbles that expand and burst, generating a force, stimulating the tissue. By mechanically stimulating the tissue, the shockwaves produce mechanotransduction effect that converts the mechanical stimulus into chemical and cellular changes to the tissue. The changes promote bone and connective tissue healing. The mechanical stimulus may also promote new blood vessel growth.
Which Shockwave Therapy Equipment is used at Lift Clinic?
At Lift Clinic, we use one of the newest generation of shockwave devices by one of the top medical manufacturer STORZ. Their mission is to continually improve shockwave technology, to develop new system concepts, and to identify new therapy indications in close cooperation with leading medical institutes.
What Can I Expect From Shockwave Therapy Treatment?
Our clinicians at Lift Clinic will assess your area of pain to determine the source. If they deem that your condition may benefit from the use of shockwave therapy, they will put you in a resting position and expose the affected that will be treated.
The clinician will apply Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy using our Storz MASTERPULS device. You will hear some clicking noises coming from the device as it apply radial shockwaves to the affect area. The clinician will adjust the intensity of the shockwaves based on your pain levels. The entire treatment may take 5-10 minutes.
After the treatment, you may feel immediate pain relief, and improved ability to move. Although it is not typical, you may notice some mild soreness or redness post treatment.
A standard protocol for Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy may be a treatment once a week for three weeks to five weeks. After the series of treatments, the gradual healing process will continue to take place for weeks following.
Will Shockwave Therapy help with my condition?
Here are some conditions that Shockwave Therapy can help with:
- Chronic Tendinopathies
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Gluteal Tendinopathy
- Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendinopathy)
- Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis)
- Calcific Tendonitis
- Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylalgia)
- Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylalgia)
- Biceps Tendinopathy
- Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
- Shin Splints (Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome)
- Other Soft Tissue Conditions
Shockwave Therapy may not be for you if:
- you have cancer/malignancy
- are pregnant
- your painful area is over lung tissue
- currently on anticoagulants medication or have clotting issues
Do I need a Doctor’s Referral?
A doctor’s referral is not necessary. Shockwave therapy is included in your treatment with our clinicians if the clinician determines that you may benefit from the treatment modality. There is no additional cost.
What does the research say?
The research suggests that Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy can be an effective modality in relieving pain intensity and increase the functionality and quality of life in various tendinopathies such as plantar fasciitis, elbow tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy and rotator cuff tendinopathy. There are no significant side effects noted. Combining shockwave therapy and exercise can be an effective way when dealing with soft tissue injuries, especially tendinopathies. It can be a good option for patients who failed to respond to conventional treatment, or are people who are dealing with chronic tendinopathies.
References
- Al-Abbad H., Simon J.V. The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on chronic achilles tendinopathy: A systematic review. Foot Ankle Int. 2013;34:33–41. doi: 10.1177/1071100712464354.
- Gerdesmeyer L, Mittermayr R, Fuerst M, Al Muderis M, Thiele R, Saxena A, et al. Current evidence of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in chronic Achilles tendinopathy. Int J Surg. 2015;24(Pt B):154–159.
- Mani-Babu S, Morrissey D, Waugh C, Screen H, Barton C. The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in lower limb tendinopathy: a systematic review. Am J Sports Med 2015;43:752-761.
- Korakakis V, Whiteley R, Tzavara A, et al. The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in common lower limb conditions: a systematic review including quantification of patient-rated pain reduction. Br J Sports Med 2018;52:387-407.
- Schmitz C, Császár NB, Milz S, et al. Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for orthopedic conditions: a systematic review on studies listed in the PEDro database. Br Med Bull. 2015;116(1):115-138. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldv047
- Dedes V, Stergioulas A, Kipreos G, Dede AM, Mitseas A, Panoutsopoulos GI. Effectiveness and Safety of Shockwave Therapy in Tendinopathies. Mater Sociomed. 2018;30(2):131-146. doi:10.5455/msm.2018.30.141-146
- Dedes V, Tzirogiannis K, Polikandrioti M, Dede AM, Nikolaidis C, Mitseas A, Panoutsopoulos GI. Radial Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Ultrasound Therapy in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis. Acta Inform Med. 2019 Mar;27(1):45-49. doi: 10.5455/aim.2019.27.45-49. PMID: 31213743; PMCID: PMC6511272.
- Dedes V, Tzirogiannis K, Polikandrioti M, Dede AM, Nikolaidis C, Mitseas A, Panoutsopoulos GI. Radial Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy Versus Ultrasound Therapy in the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis. Acta Inform Med. 2019 Mar;27(1):45-49. doi: 10.5455/aim.2019.27.45-49. PMID: 31213743; PMCID: PMC6511272.
