Extra Corporeal Radial Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave Therapy involves the delivery of high intensity ultrasound waves through a special handpiece.
Radial Shockwave Therapy is used for a number of musculoskeletal disorders including:
- Tendinitis, Tendinopathy and Tendon Tears
- Ligament Injuries
- Delayed Bone Healing
- Chronic Bone Disorders including Osteitis Pubis and Stress Fractures
The therapy was initially used in assisting the removal of kidney stones via external application on the skin. This therapy demonstrated changes in the soft tissues in the skin, muscles and tendons which lead to the use of radial shockwave for tendons and other soft tissues.
Shockwave therapy has a number of roles in treating musculoskeletal disorders, which allows for the immediate improvement of symptoms and in combination with other treatment approaches, can completely resolve all symptoms.
Shockwave Therapy can treat:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Patella Tendinopathy and Tears
- Hamstring Tendinopathy and Tears
- Achilles Tendinopathy
- Calcific Bursitis
- Rotator Cuff disorders
- Trochanteric Bursitis and Gluteal Tendinopathy
How does Shockwave Therapy work?
How shockwave works is only partly understood and currently there are a number of studies internationally to assist in further understanding the science behind the results we are see with shockwave therapy.
The current understanding is that the shockwave application causes a release of substance P from the terminal vesicles of nerves which saturate the pain fiber receptors. This causes an overload and blocking effect with an immediate decrease in pain. The nerves that cause pain are effectively “ paralysed” so that patients will do a task that usually causes pain and find that this is almost pain free.
Usually patients require 2-3 treatments. Patients usually have some immediate improvement from shockwave. Then from the second treatment the pain reduces further and by the third session there is a significant decrease in pain, which may longstanding.
Radial shock wave works best when combined with a comprehensive rehabilitation program. We do expect patients to carry out specific strengthening exercises in consultation with a physiotherapists or other practitioner who specialises in tendon rehabilitation for long term results.
Treatment only lasts 10-15 minutes and patients only feel mild discomfort during the treatment.
Currently our Sports Physicians use shockwave therapy as well as podiatrists and our senior physiotherapists who have done extra training in shockwave therapy.
Guided Dolorclast Therapy
Shock waves delivery is short in time, usually lasting just a few minutes, thus enabling to be coupled with other therapies within the same session as recommended by the GDT. DolorClast® Shock Waves protocol usually includes a total of three to five sessions, planned at a rate of one to two sessions per week with an interval of minimum 72h between them.
Contact Our Shockwave Therapy Clinic on 1300 858 860.