Shockwave therapy – also called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (or ESWT) – is a safe and effective way of treating chronic painful orthopaedic conditions, particularly tendon pain. It uses intense but very short bursts of energy waves to speed up the body’s natural healing process and is increasingly used as an alternative to surgery.
Recent research shows it is also effective in some areas of regenerative medicine, particularly spinal cord injuries and vascular and nerve regeneration.
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Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
It is non-invasive and requires no ongoing medication. Treatments are fast – usually around five minutes – and the results are clinically proven to be effective. Shockwave therapy is used increasingly as an alternative to surgery in treating tendon injuries and it can also be used effectively post-surgery to help tendons heal around new joints.
How it works
Shockwaves are passed through the skin to the injured area using a handheld device. These shockwaves are audible, low-energy sound waves that work by increasing blood flow to the injury site and speeding up the body’s own healing process.
In the same way that bubbles in Jacuzzi can be targeted at particular areas of the body to relieve pain, so the shockwave machine can deliver waves of sound to the painful area. Narrow waves focus the treatment on a highly targeted area while wider waves treat a broader area. Focused, narrow waves achieve greater pressure and depth, making them ideal for joint-related problems. Wider waves are generally used for treating soft tissue-related pain.
Risk factors
Shockwave therapy has fewer risks than many other forms of treatment as it is non-invasive, does not require medication and encourages the body’s own natural healing processes. For example, painkilling injections, which are often given for tendon pain, have been found to damage the tendon in some instances, causing an interstitial tear. Shockwave therapy can then be used to restart the healing process.
There is a certain amount of discomfort during a Shockwave therapy treatment and afterwards you may experience more pain, redness, bruising, swelling or numbness in the area. These symptoms should subside within a week. There is a small risk of tendon or ligament rupture, or damage to the soft tissues.
What does Shockwave Therapy treat?
Shockwave therapy can be used to relieve pain from a broad range of conditions, including:
- Hip
- Shoulder, including calcific tendinopathy
- Elbow, including tennis elbow
- Knee
- Heel
- Achilles tendon
- Hamstring muscles / tendons
- Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Who it helps
Shockwave therapy is suitable for most people suffering from chronic pain from orthopaedic conditions, as outlined above. However, it is not suitable if you are:
- pregnant
- taking antiplatelets, excluding aspirin, or anticoagulants
- have a blood clotting disorder
- have bone cancer
- under the age of 18
- have had a steroid injection in the area in the last 12 weeks
FAQ’s
Will it hurt?
There is a certain amount of pain and discomfort during the procedure. The doctor carrying out the procedure will ask you to advise them of your pain levels and can adjust the treatment to manage this.
Will I need to stay in hospital?
No, you can go home after the treatment and should be able to resume your normal activities immediately. It is best to avoid doing anything too strenuous for around 48 hours.
What should I do if I’m in pain after the treatment?
If you do experience any pain after shockwave therapy, it is fine to take paracetamol but avoid taking anti-inflammatories, like ibuprofen, as this can interfere with the body’s natural healing process.
Personal outcomes – what to expect
Each year, Shockwave therapy enables thousands of patients to enjoy an active life, free of chronic pain.
Our patient-care process
- Once all of your diagnostic procedures are completed, we will be able to explain whether surgery is recommended.
- We will go through the procedures with you, covering the operation itself, the recovery process and the future prospects.
- Your orthopaedic surgeon will also explain the risks: these are small, but it is important for you to understand them.
- You can feel reassured that you will receive expert care from the start of the process, including your after-care.
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