Shockwave Therapy

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave Therapy is a modern and highly effective addition to muscular skeletal rehabilitation.

Initially used to dissolve kidney stones without the need for surgery, the use of Shockwave Therapy to treat musculo-skelatal disorders and tendon pain began in the 1990’s. Subsequent medical trials have shown a significant increase in the healing process when Shockwave Therapy is used as part of osteopathic treatment.

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

The skill in using shockwaves lies in using low levels of mechanical energy to open up biomolecular signal pathways, activate stem cells and stimulate new cell growth.

The resonance (shockwave) is able to pentrate deeply into the affected area, stimulating blood flow to facilitate deep tissue healing and removing inflammation while the shockwaves also assist in the stimulation of pro-collagen synthesis which enables tendon regeneration and repair. The resonance created by the shockwaves may also considerably reduce painful sensation by reducing nerve irritation.

If you would like to find out more about how shockwave therapy works, you can watch a video on our case-studies page.

What is Shockwave Therapy used to Treat?

Shockwave Therapy can be used to treat a wide-range of symptoms including back pain and lower back pain, tennis elbow, hip pain, tendon pain and damage to tendons (including damage to the Achilles tendon). Boney Pathologies such as lower limb stress fractures and medial tibial stress shin splints may also benefit from Shockwave Therapy as part of a tailored osteopathic treatment.

As part of your initial consultation and diagnosis, your Osteopath, Helen How  will assess the  treatment best suited to your specific requirements. Focus and/or Radial Shockwave Therapy may be used as part of your treatment depending upon your condition and symptoms.

Is Shockwave Therapy Safe?

Despite the rather frightening name, Shockwave Therapy is a gentle, non-invasive treatment which can boost the natural healing abilities and stamina of the body. Osteopath Helen How is highly experienced in the use of both Radial and Focus Shockwave Therapy which she often uses as part of her sports rehabilitation treatment.  For many years now Helen has successfully treated both professional and amateur athletes using Shockwave Therapy and also lectures on the ways in which Focus and Radial Shockwave Therapy can be used as part of osteopathic treatment and the rehabilitation process.