Shockwave therapy is a treatment strategy where a machine is utilised to coordinate radial shockwaves with respect to the body in question for treatment. In clinical practice, the extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ESWT) was first brought into training in 1982 for urologic conditions. The achievement of this methodology for the treatment of urinary stones immediately made it a first-line, non-obtrusive, and viable technique.
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Shockwave therapy is a non-intrusive treatment that includes making a progression of low energy acoustic wave pulses that are straightforwardly applied to an injury through an individual’s skin by means of a gel.
Shockwave treatment is a multidisciplinary device utilised in physiotherapy, muscular health, veterinary medication, urology, and sports medication. The main objectives are quick relief from discomfort and pain, alongside rebuilding of mobility. Moreover, being a non-surgical treatment there is no need for painkillers that make it an ideal treatment to accelerate recuperation and heal different indicators causing acute and chronic pain.
Acoustic waves with high energy utilised in shockwave therapy that connects with tissue, causing repair of tissue and cell development, absence of pain, and restoration of mobility.
Procedure:
- The area for treatment is localised.
- Gel is applied to the localised area. The gel is necessary for the transfer of shock waves efficiently.
- The shockwave applicator is placed against the localised area for treatment.
The shockwaves decrease pain through the production of substance P and the hyper-stimulation of pain sensors. The body itself recovers the affected tissues, bringing about the accompanying impacts:
Pain Reduction:
The patient encounters a decrease in pain. Intense pulsations from the transmitter into the tissue make a solid nociceptor activation of the A-β fibers, which influences interneurons that hinder the transmission of pain signals.
Increased Metabolism:
Shockwaves impact the tissue on a cellular level. The cells’ chemical environment is influenced by free radicals that relieve pain and inflammatory inhibiting substances.
Revascularisation:
Rehashed shockwaves on the localised area make a revascularisation impact and the fresh bloodstream enhances tissue recuperation and healing.
What does Shockwave Therapy treat?
Shockwave treatment can be viable for a number of tissue and bone conditions.
- Plantar fasciitis.
- Shoulder pain, e.g., calcific sores or tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, and bony spurs.
- Lateral epicondylitis (Tennis elbow).
- Medial epicondylitis (Golf player’s elbow).
- Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper’s knee).
- Tibial stress syndrome (Shin pain).
- Achilles tendinopathy.
- Hip pain (Trochanteric pain disorder).
- Heel pain and heel spurs.
The administration of a single treatment takes approximately 10-15mins. 3-5 sessions are essential for treatment, with one session being done after 5-10 days. After the sessions are finished, the localised area will keep on mending for 6-12 weeks. The maximum recuperation happens roughly around 3 months after the end of the session.
Effectiveness of Shockwave Therapy:
Research is still ongoing for this front line innovation. The most recent reports affirm that shockwave treatment successfully treats soft tissue wounds, pain, and certain bone conditions like heel spurs. Evidence suggests that the best treatment is a mix of the shockwave and physiotherapy. 80% of patients reported a decrease in pain after 2-3 sessions.
Conclusion:
Shockwave therapy is its own treatment for physical injury or pain because of ailment. With this therapy, the pain killers are not needed. The motivation behind the treatment is to trigger the body’s healing process. Individuals reported that their pain is decreased and versatility improved after the primary treatment. Additionally, it may be the best option due to its adequacy and wellbeing. Shockwave therapy is constantly joined with training and physiotherapy modalities during treatment. Moreover, the patients are given physical exercise as homework to enhance healing and functionality.
References:
Afshar, M. (2017, December 4). What is shockwave therapy? Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.lifemark.ca/blog-post/what-shockwave-therapy
Btl. (n.d.). SHOCKWAVE THERAPY. Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.shockwavetherapy.eu/subpage
C. Chaussy, E. Schmiedt, D. Jocham, W. Brendel, B. Forssmann, V. Walther First clinical experience with extracorporeally induced destruction of kidney stones by shock waves J Urol, 127 (1982), pp. 417-420
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.physio-pedia.com/Extracorporeal_shockwave_therapy_(ESWT)
Shockwave Therapy – Fast Effective Treatment For Pain: Witney Physio. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.cotswoldphysiotherapy.com/shock-wave-therapy
Shockwave Therapy. (2020, December 03). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://complete-physio.co.uk/services/shockwavetherapy/
Shockwave Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.lacombephysio.com/physio-services/treatments/shockwave-therapy/
Shockwave Therapy. (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.winchester-physio.co.uk/shockwave-therapy
What is shockwave therapy and how does it help patients? (n.d.). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://gymna.com/en/stories/what-shockwave-therapy-and-how-does-it-help-patients
What is Shockwave Therapy?: Physiocare – Physio Clinic Twyford. (2015, October 14). Retrieved December 13, 2020, from https://www.physiocare.co.uk/physiotherapy/shockwave-therapy/evidence/
* Contact Reach Physiotherapy for a list of references used for this blog content.
