Radial Shockwave therapy (R-SWT) is a innovative, safe, cost-effective and evidenced based treatment for pain and musculoskeletal injuries. As a relatively new treatment modality in musculoskeletal medicine, Radial Shockwave therapy has gained a strong reputation as the go to therapy for chronic dysfunction and pain in certain tissues.
Shockwaves have previously been used amongst the medical community since the 1970s for treatment of conditions like Kidney Stones though more recently research has shown the benefits of this type of therapy for assisting with tissue healing in bone, ligament, fascia, muscle and tendon. This type of treatment is now well evidenced and supported with a wide range of clinical studies and Shockwave therapy is also recommended on the National Institute of Clinical Effectiveness (NICE) guidelines.
Shockwave therapy is a safe and non-invasive treatment with convincing evidence for its effectiveness from a large body of research and clinical trials. There are now multiple, randomised, double-blinded clinical trials that support the use of shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, calcific tendinitis of the shoulder and many other tendon pathologies.
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Below is a list of injuries that are most likely to benefit from Shockwave therapy treatment. shockwave therapy is an effective treatment modality for a variety of lower and upper conditions. These include:​
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Calcific Tendinopathy
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Tennis Elbow (common extensor tendinopathy)
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Golfer’s Elbow (common flexor tendinopathy)
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Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (also referred to as gluteus medius tendinopathy and/or trochanteric bursitis)
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Rotator cuff Tendinopathy
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy (also referred to as high hamstring tendinopathy, or hamstring origin tendinopathy)
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Patella Tendinopathy
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Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy
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Mid-portion Achilles Tendinopathy
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Plantar Fasciitis
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Shin Splints
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How does Shockwave Therapy work?
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Shockwave Therapy uses a specialist device to deliver mechanical energy through the skin to the injured part of the body. The shockwaves are mechanical and not electric. They are audible, low-energy sound waves, which increase the blood flow to the injured area and excite the cells within the tissue to help accelerate healing.
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Shockwave Therapy has two main modes of action which will help with persistent tendon pain. First the shockwaves work to desensitise nerve endings which will often give an immediate reduction in pain. Secondly, and often most importantly, the shockwaves cause controlled micro-trauma (microscopic damage) to the tissues which encourages the body to respond by increasing the blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area. This will activate and accelerate the body’s own healing response. The shockwaves can also ‘breakdown’ calcifications.
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The main benefits of shockwave are pain relief and restoration of function. Shockwave therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment modality for a range of common tendon complaints including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy and tennis elbow.
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Shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment with convincing evidence for its effectiveness from a large body of research and clinical trials. There are now multiple, randomised, double-blinded clinical trials that support the use of shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, and calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.
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Is there clinical evidence supporting the use of Shockwave Therapy?
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There is a significant body of evidence supporting the use of shockwave therapy in many common conditions. For more information about your specific condition please use the links above.
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​Shockwave Therapy significantly reduces the pain that accompanies tendinopathies and improves functionality and quality of life. It has been stated that shockwave therapy has a 70% success rate for tendinopathies (Moya et al, 2018, Dedes et al 2018).
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If you would like to know more about our Radial Shockwave therapy service and know whether it is the right treatment for you, please contact us!
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