Shockwave Therapy Could Help.
WHY YOU SHOULD USE SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
Success Rate
Shockwave therapy has a 95% success rate
Non-Invasive
It is a non-invasive alternative to surgery
Pain Relief
It offers permanent pain relief
Side Effects
It has no side effects
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that involves delivering high-energy acoustic waves to injured or painful areas of the body. It is commonly used to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those involving tendons and ligaments. It has been used in the treatment of kidney stones since the 1980’s and once the biological effects of shockwave therapy was understood, it was adopted in the fields of orthopaedics and traumatology. It is now routinely offered as an additional treatment mode in physiotherapy clinics.
Introductory video
How does it work?
- Energy Delivery: Shockwave therapy uses a device to deliver controlled, high-energy sound waves to the targeted area.
- Biological Effects: These sound waves stimulate healing processes by increasing blood flow, reducing inflammation, and promoting the regeneration of tissues.
- Pain Relief: It can also have an analgesic effect by disrupting pain signals.
What is it used for?
Shockwave therapy is used to treat conditions such as:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinitis
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)(common flexor tendinopathy)
- Golfer’s Elbow (common flexor tendinopathy)
- Calcific shoulder tendinitis
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Chronic pelvic pain syndrome
- Bone injuries– Shin splints (MTSS), stress fractures and non-union fractures
- Calcific tendinopathy
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (also referred to as gluteus medius tendinopathy and/or trochanteric bursitis)
- Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy (also referred to as high hamstring tendinopathy, or hamstring origin tendinopathy)
- Insertional Achilles tendinopathy
- Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy
Shoulder Pain
Elbow Pain
How is it used?
During your initial assessment, your chartered physiotherapist will determine whether or not shockwave therapy would help your particular injury and ascertain that there are no contraindications in your current health situation. Then a treatment plan including shockwave therapy will be drawn up. You will need a course of treatments, depending on the severity of your condition - this will be clearly outlined by your therapist.
This is how the treatment is delivered:
Preparation
The patient is typically positioned comfortably, and the area to be treated is exposed.Application
A conductive gel is applied to the skin to help transmit the shockwaves. The therapist uses a hand-held device to deliver the shockwaves to the targeted area.Duration
Each session usually lasts between 15 to 20 minutes, and multiple sessions will be required depending on the condition being treated.Benefits
Non-invasive
Unlike surgery, it does not require any incisions or injectionsMinimal Downtime
Patients can often return to their normal activities shortly after treatment.Effectiveness
Many studies and clinical trials have shown positive outcomes for various conditions.Risks and Side Effects
Pain
Some patients may experience discomfort during the treatment.Bruising and Swelling
Mild bruising or swelling can occur in the treated area.No Major Side Effects
Serious complications are rare.Contraindications
Shockwave therapy may not be suitable for individuals with certain conditions such as blood clotting disorders, infections in the treatment area, or tumors. It is also generally avoided during pregnancy.
Effectiveness
Shockwave therapy is a promising treatment option for certain musculoskeletal conditions, providing pain relief and promoting healing without the need for invasive procedures.
Is there clinical evidence supporting the use of shockwave therapy?
There is a significant body of evidence supporting the use of shockwave therapy in many common conditions.
Contact us!
Call us on 01 8250151 to speak with one of our friendly team, ask any questions or to start getting help.
Alternatively, fill in a form, and we will get back to you as fast as possible.
You’ll be glad you did.
HERE ARE SOME PAPERS:
High-quality evidence suggests ESWT has a large effect on pain and function for PF (Plantar Fasciitis).
Charles, R., Fang, L., Zhu, R., & Wang, J. (2023). The effectiveness of shockwave therapy on patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, and plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Immunology, 14, 1193835.
This review suggests that ESWT is a safe and effective modality for treating midportion Achilles tendinopathy as it reduces pain and improves function. The best available evidence suggests that a combination of ESWT with eccentric exercises and stretching may be even more effective than ESWT alone.
Feeney, K. M. (2022). The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for midportion Achilles tendinopathy: a systematic review. Cureus, 14(7).
Shockwave therapy significantly reduced 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).
Dedes, V., Stergioulas, A., Kipreos, G., Dede, A. M., Mitseas, A., & Panoutsopoulos, G. I. (2018). Effectiveness and safety of shockwave therapy in tendinopathies. Materia socio-medica, 30(2), 131.
If you would like to discuss shockwave therapy before you visit the clinic, please call or text us on 0831778885 and one of our physiotherapists will be happy to help.
Client Testimonials
My experience of the clinic can be described as hugely positive. Excellent professional service by the team. The physiotherapy treatment and advice that I received was tremendously effective. Based on my experience I strongly recommend.Donal Carey
Great experience, had back pain and was seen by Ava weekly for nearly 2 monhts, she sorted out all the issues and was very happy with her. Great jobJames Cregan
Very positive experience, Had a back problem and it took a few weeks to sort but with the help of the team there is was sorted. Many thanks to Gerry and Ava for the helpMichael Higgins
Gerard obviously knows his stuff. Gave me very good advice.Stephen Horan
Accepted Insurances
