Did you know that the same technology used to break down kidney stones can help musculoskeletal conditions and injuries?

Shockwave therapy (extracorporeal or radial shockwave therapy) uses pulsing sound waves to transfer energy to deeper parts of your soft tissue and bones to encourage healing and provide relief. With this treatment, sound passes non-invasively through the skin to the soft tissue and bone—with hardly any side effects.

Since this technology was first introduced in the 80s, the benefits and applications of shockwave therapy have exploded—and its ability to support healing and provide relief is still being investigated today. So, here’s a quick overview of this fascinating treatment.

5 Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy has many benefits; these are the key ones:

1. It is non-invasive. Shockwave therapy is a safer alternative to injections or surgeries, which come with many risks—including infection. It stimulates natural healing—without expensive or potent medications—and has minimal side effects.
2. It breaks down scar tissue. The soundwaves create pressure pulses on tough scar tissue and help restore flexibility and range of motion. This is especially helpful when manual therapy can’t access the inner soft tissue. This naturally provides relief and supports healing.
3. It reduces inflammation. Concentrated sound waves stimulate the blood flow in a specific area, which reduces inflammation. They also slow down the release of inflammatory mediators in the cells, leading to less stiffness, less swelling, and, ultimately, relief!
4. It promotes the formation of collagen. The sound waves have the additional benefit of supporting the formation of collagen—the protein that is a key component of the body’s soft tissue, giving it strength and structure.
5. It’s quick and affordable. Unlike other procedures, shockwave therapy is quick and accessible. There are no hospital stays or time off work; you might need a few visits, but each one is only a few minutes. Simple.

Which Conditions Benefit from Shockwave Therapy?

If you’re wondering if shockwave therapy is the solution you’ve been hunting for, this should help. It has been successful in treating and providing pain relief for the following conditions or injuries—to name a few:

• Old injuries that are stiff due to scar tissue
• Heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis
• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome—intense pain along the outer hip or thigh
• Tendonitis and Calcific tendinopathy—it helps break down the calcium crystals.
• Enhanced scar and wound healing
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Bone injuries—it promotes the healing of stress fractures and stimulates bone growth.

In most situations, shockwave therapy provides safe and effective support for healing. It is often used with other treatments—like manual therapy, exercises, and stretches. In fact, in the case of plantar fasciitis, it has been proven to be even more effective when combined with stretching exercises.

To find out if you could benefit from shockwave therapy, contact our team at Turramurra Physiotherapy. We’ll carefully examine you, diagnose the cause of your pain or discomfort, and put together a personalised recovery plan using a variety of treatments. We can work to restore your strength, reduce your pain, and help you achieve your goals! Contact us today!