Radial Shockwave

 

What is Radial Shockwave?

Radial Shockwave therapy is a controlled wave of mechanical energy to improve your patient’s chronic musculoskeletal mobility and provides drug-free pain relief. It is a safe, non-invasive, and fast non-surgical method for treating superficial Musculoskeletal conditions.

The Radial Shockwave unit provides that energy through an electromechanical process as opposed to compressed mechanical energy, thereby providing a more comfortable patient experience.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, or NICE, who give guidance, advice and information to healthcare professionals, approves the use of shockwave therapy for musculoskeletal pain relief in clinic and hospital settings in the UK. How does it help? This is thought to help through three mechanisms:

• Desensitises nerve endings in the area which helps reduce pain.

• Local micro-trauma which helps stimulate the body’s natural response to injury, increasing blood flow and metabolism which helps with healing.

• Breaks down disorganised tissue and calcification which is associated with tendinopathy.

By combining this non-invasive procedure with physiotherapy/loading programme, you can experience faster healing and a more comprehensive rehabilitation process

 

What can radial shockwave treat?

• Tennis Elbow
• Achilles Tendinoapthy
• Plantarfasciitis
• Calcific tendinitis
• Hamstring Tendinopathy
• Gluteal tendinopathy
• Patella Tendinopathy
• Golfers Elbow
• Shoulder tendon pathologies

 

What can I expect at the appointment?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive, nonsurgical treatment, but you might feel a little pain or discomfort in the treatment area during the procedure. Most patients say it feels like small pulses against the skin. Your specialist may be able to adjust the way they use the shockwave device if your pain is significant. The amount of discomfort depends in part on the person, their injury, and whether the damaged tissues are close to a bone. (Treatments delivered closer to a bone are generally more uncomfortable.)

Each session will only last a few minutes, so the vast majority of patients are able to tolerate the levels of discomfort caused by shockwave therapy. The rest of the session will be used to ensure your muscle/tendon loading program is accurate.

To gain the most effective results with the shockwave it is recommended to start with 3 sessions at weekly intervals. When you arrive for your treatment, it’s helpful if you’re wearing loose clothing that you can move around easily in as it will make you more comfortable.

Depending on where your pain is, you may be laying on your front, and it’s easier to do so if you’re not restricted by clothing.

If you would like a course of shockwave therapy please book with Sonja Kritzinger.