What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave Treatment was approved in 2016 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for Achilles tendinopathy.
In the 2016 paper ‘The specialist advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as pain reduction, pain relief and improved function’ and stated that ‘The evidence on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) raises no major safety concerns’.
But what is shockwave therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment in which a device is used to pass acoustic shockwaves through the skin to the affected area.
How does Shockwave therapy work?
Shockwave therapy uses a specialist device to deliver acoustic energy through the skin to the injured part of the body. The shockwaves are mechanical and not electric. They are audible, low-energy sound waves, which increase the blood flow to the injured area.
Shockwave therapy has two main modes of action which will help with persistent tendon pain. First the shockwaves work to desensitise nerve endings which will often give an immediate reduction in pain.
Secondly, and often most importantly, the shockwaves cause controlled micro-trauma (microscopic damage) to the tissues which encourages the body to respond by increasing the blood circulation and metabolism in the affected area. This will activate and accelerate the body’s own healing response. The shockwaves can also ‘breakdown’ disorganised tissue and calcifications.
SHOCKWAVE FOR ACHILLES TENDONITIS
Shockwave Treatment was approved in 2016 by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for Achilles tendinopathy.
In the 2016 paper ‘The specialist advisers listed key efficacy outcomes as pain reduction, pain relief and improved function’ and stated that ‘The evidence on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for Achilles tendinopathy raises no major safety concerns’.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment in which a device is used to pass acoustic shockwaves through the skin to the affected area.
