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Shockwave Therapy

In this blog, Alec and Lachlan from Up and Running Podiatry discuss the concept of Shockwave Therapy.

Have you found that you are putting in 100% into your exercise rehabilitation but your soft tissue injury is taking a long time to heal? Shockwave therapy could be the answer. 

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality used to treat muscles, tendons, fascia (and more recent research suggests bone and other soft tissue lesions). This treatment acts to remove these structures out of the chronic stages of inflammation and bring them back into the acute stage. At this time, the body is able to reset and heal. If pain is decreased, exercise load can be increased to make the tissue stronger.

How does Shockwave Therapy work?

Shockwave Therapy is a sports medicine technique. It is used to create an acute inflammatory response within a chronic condition to promote healing and decrease pain. The machine works by applying high intensity sound waves through the skin to the damaged tendon, fascia or muscle.

There’s no electrical current involved and it’s more accurately called a pressure wave. These pressure waves cause microscopic damage to the blood vessels in the tissue, to promote healing and growth factors to the area. They also deplete our nerve endings of a chemical called substance P that allows us to feel pain. Subsequently, you generally feel a lot better straight after treatment.

What Shockwave Therapy does do:

  • Initiates repair of chronically inflamed tissues.
  • Decreases pain. 
  • Speeds up the healing process.
  • Inhibit the production of substance P which causes analgesia. This is a peptide that acts a neurotransmitter in the perception of pain.  
  • Improves blood circulation.
  • Increases range of motion and lengthening of muscles.

 What Shockwave Therapy doesn’t do:

  • Tickle! (LOL), the treatment is mildly uncomfortable. 

Shockwave therapy has been used in sports medicine for the past two decades. Since this time, it has become an essential sports science treatment in the AFL and Olympic teams. Now shockwave therapy can be found in clinics throughout Melbourne.

Common injuries that can be treated with shockwave therapy include:

  • Plantar heel pain (plantar fasciopathy).
  • Patella tendinopathy.
  • Tibialis posterior tendinopathy.
  • Peroneal tendinopathy.
  • Achilles tendinopathy.

If you’re tired of being in pain and/or other treatment modalities have been ineffective, it could well be worth considering! 

~ Alec and Lachlan

Up and Running Podiatry Port Melbourne 

Up and Running website: https://www.upandrunningpodiatry.com.au

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