Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a multidisciplinary device used in orthopedics, physiotherapy, and sports medicine. Also, it will provide fast pain relief and restores mobility. In addition, it is an ideal therapy to speed up recovery and cure various indications causing acute or chronic pain. Contact MindBody Physiotherapy in Leduc, AB today to find out more about our shockwave therapy and how we can aid you in your recovery process.

How does shockwave therapy work?

Acoustic waves with high energy peaks used in shockwave therapy interact with tissue. This causes accelerated tissue repair and cell growth, analgesia, and mobility restoration.

New Blood Vessel Formation

Nutrient blood flow is necessary to start and maintain the repair processes of damaged tissue. Secondly, the application of acoustic waves creates capillary micro ruptures in the tendon and bone.

Reversal of Chronic Inflammation

Mast cells are one of the key components of the inflammatory process. Secondly, pervasive acoustic waves will increase their activity.

Stimulation of Collagen Production

The production of a sufficient amount of collagen is a necessary precondition for the repair processes of the damaged myoskeletal and ligamentous structures. In addition, shockwave therapy accelerates procollagen synthesis.

Dissolution of Calcified Fibroblasts

Calcium build-up is most often the result of micro-tears or other trauma to a tendon. Acoustic waves break up the existing calcifications.

Dispersion of Pain Mediator “Substance P”

Substance P is a neurotransmitter that mediates pain information through the C-fibers. Additionally, this neuropeptide causes intense, persistent, and chronic pain.

Release of Trigger Points

Trigger points are the principal cause of pain in the back, neck, shoulder, and limbs. Delivered acoustic energy unblocks the calcium pump and thus reverses the metabolic crisis in the myofilaments and releases the trigger points.

What Conditions Can Be Treated?

Our expert physiotherapists use shockwave therapy to treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions. Additionally, they will use shockwave therapy to treat those which involve areas where major connective tissue attaches to the bone. Common sites that can be successfully treated are:

Jumper’s Knee

Jumper’s knee is an inflammation or injury of the patellar tendon felt as pain, tenderness, and functional deficit. This condition may interfere with or even end your sporting career regardless of age and is difficult to treat.

Shoulder Pain

Calcifications, impingement syndrome, and frozen shoulder are all causes of shoulder pain. Thus, it can feel like a dull to severe pain and limit your daily life.

Tennis Elbow

Tennis elbow is a frequent condition occurring in up to 10% of the general population. Consequently, the conservative treatment of epicondylitis is lengthy (rest), includes medication (pain killers, steroid injections), and often needs repetition. Shockwave therapy on the other hand offers rather prompt pain relief and cure with the efficiency of over 70% in just a maximum of 5 treatments.

Heel Spur

A calcium deposit on the underside of the heel bone (heel spur) causes scarring and inflammation of the plantar fascia (plantar fasciitis). Therefore, either of the indications or combined can limit your daily activities.

Insertional Pain

Pain in the muscle insertions typically occurs due to repetitive or prolonged activities placing strain on a particular tendon.

Chronic Tendinopathy

Cumulated microtraumas from repetitive overloading can result in chronic tendinopathy (tendinitis or tendinosis). Also, tendinopathies in various areas of the body are a widespread diagnosis in both active persons and the general population.

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

Medial tibial stress syndrome typically occurs due to activities placing large amounts of stress through the tibialis anterior muscle. These activities may include fast walking or running (especially up or downhill or on hard or uneven surfaces) or sporting activity (such as kicking sports). In conclusion, you will not be able to participate in these activities for long periods.

Calcifications

Calcifying tendinitis is a chronic pain disorder. Calcification in rotator cuff tendons is also a common characteristic. Moreover, this condition causes pain and range of motion limitations.

Hip Pain

With age and use, the cartilage can wear down or become damaged. Similarly, muscles and tendons in the hips will become overused. A fall will injure the hip bone and might cause a fracture also. Therefore, any of these conditions can lead to pain and damage in the hip area.

What are the benefits of shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy has been known to:

1. Quickly reduces pain
2. You will not need medication
3. Avoids surgery and anesthesia
4. No side effects
5. No risk of allergies
6. Accelerates healing
7. Effective for chronic conditions

What to expect from a shockwave therapy treatment

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment. The application is simple and easy. Initiate therapy in 3 steps:

1. Location of the area to be treated – The area to be treated is located using palpation to deliver the therapy precisely.
2. Gel application – Sufficient amount of gel is applied to the area located in step 1. Secondly, the use of gel is necessary to transfer the acoustic waves efficiently and smoothly.
3. Therapy initiation – The Shockwave applicator is slightly pushed against the area to be treated and the start button is pressed.

If you are in Leduc, AB suffering from pain from an injury and would like to see if you are a candidate for shockwave therapy, contact MindBody Physiotherapy to schedule an appointment and find relief today.