Shockwave Therapy
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality designed to harness the body's intrinsic healing mechanisms. By releasing growth factors within injured tissues, it effectively alleviates pain and promotes the repair of tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues. Also known as extracorporeal pulse activation technology (EPAT), this form of regenerative medicine excels in treating tendinopathies and challenging ligament injuries, and it can even disintegrate calcific deposits within degenerative tendons.
This therapy is particularly advantageous post-orthopedic surgeries, such as hip impingement corrections, by mitigating persistent tendon pain stemming from prolonged degeneration.
Sports Injuries Addressed by Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is adept at treating a range of sports-related injuries, facilitating pain relief and accelerating healing. It is particularly effective for conditions such as:
Plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy (foot pain)
Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
Hamstring injuries (leg pain)
Rectus femoris and lateral hip pain with gluteal tendinopathies (hip pain)
Little League elbow and tennis elbow (elbow pain)
Rotator cuff injuries (shoulder pain)
Mechanism of Shockwave Therapy
Administered by a sports medicine physician or an athletic trainer, shockwave therapy involves applying a device that emits shockwaves into the injured area, thereby enhancing blood flow and stimulating the release of growth hormones to foster new tissue growth.
There are two primary types of shockwave therapy:
Focused Shockwave Therapy: Directs waves into a concentrated area.
Radial Shockwave Therapy: Disperses shockwaves over a broader region, such as along the length of an injured tendon.
Is Shockwave Therapy Painful?
While some patients report discomfort during shockwave therapy, it is generally well-tolerated and not considered painful. The level of discomfort can vary based on individual sensitivity, the nature of the injury, and proximity to bone. A topical gel is typically applied to minimize discomfort, which subsides almost immediately after the session.