We now offer Shockwave Therapy in our Kensington Clinic
How does shockwave therapy work?
The simple answer: shock wave therapy sends soundwaves into the painful area to stimulate healing and pain relief.
More technical answer:
The shock waves are acoustic waves, generated by a pellet being launched at speed to the end of the handpiece at a preset interval. The soundwaves then travel from the tip of the handpiece, through a gel and into and through the tissues, where they release energy and have several effects:
- Release substance P, a pain mediator and growth factor. This has both a pain-relieving effect, and dilutes the blood vessels, to stimulate circulation and contributes to formation of new bone tissue.
- Inhibits the cox II enzyme, to reduce inflammation
- Hyperstimulates nerve fibres, blocking an increase in pain stimuli, and intensifies the pain-relieving effect through gate control
Shockwave therapy can be used to treat
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
- Greater trochanteric pain syndrome
- Osgood Schlatter disease
- Calcific tendonitis