SHOCKWAVE TREATMENT FOR TENDON ISSUES
Evidenced informed practice is a core value at Fox Physiotherapy.
Shockwave therapy has been around for a number of years but has gained notoriety particularly in recent years due to the effect it has on assisting healing in ongoing long term and acute tendon issues.
The research has shown shockwave therapy particularly strong in assisting in the resolution of ACHILLES TENDONOPATHY, TENNIS ELBOW ( outer elbow), GOLFERS ELBOW (inner elbow), PATELLAR TENDINOPATHY, PLANTAR FASCIITIS and SHOULDER TENDON issues (supraspinatus tendinopathy, biceps tendinopathy).
A shockwave is a ‘large amplitude compression wave, as that produced by an explosion or by supersonic motion of a body in a medium’, essentially a shockwave creates a pressure disturbance in the tissue you are treating to facilitate a healing response.
Shockwave therapy of tendon issues is at low and medium frequencies and works primarily by creating an inflammatory reaction within the tendon tissue as it enters the tissue.
The energy generated by the shockwave treatment creates bubbles or ‘cavitation’ in the underlying tissue causing it to inflame which rushes the white blood cells and inflammatory cytokines (healing cells) to the tissue thereby stimulating new high quality tendon regeneration or repair.
Shockwaves can be useful in breaking down calcific deposits within the tendon.
The process is relatively pain free with only slight discomfort reported by most people.
The session lasts approximately 15-20 minutes and when combined over a session with the appropriate exercise plan and manual therapy for your tendon issue will be effective in resolving almost all tendon issues.
At Fox Physiotherapy we invest in high quality shockwave equipment and staff training to ensure tendon issues are a thing of the past.
