25/06/2025
SHOCKWAVE THERAPY IS HERE. Want to know more about shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy was first used in the 80’s as a non-invasive technique to break down kidney stones.
It was noticed that it had a beneficial effect on other tissues, and machines were developed to work on musculoskeletal conditions.
There are two types, radial and focused. My new machine is radial. Both produce high intensity sound waves. Radial shockwave has a broader application, working on more tissue at the same time, kind of like casting a wider net. Focused shockwave beams the high intensity into a much smaller area, more like throwing a dart.
It is particularly helpful for more chronic conditions (anything that’s gone on longer than 6 weeks) but there’s evidence to show it can have benefit in more acute injuries too.
It works great on tissues like tendons, ligaments and fascia. It can breaks down calcifications and bone spurs. It’s also been shown to be very beneficial for osteoarthritis .
It can also be used in other disciplines (not by myself) on wound healing, bone healing and even erectile dysfunction!
It works particularly well on pain relief and improving blood supply, which aids in both movement and function recovery and tissue healing.
One of the big ways that shockwave therapy can help is by stimulating the release of something called substance P from the nerve endings. This is a neuropeptide which is involved in the transmission of pain. Substance P floods the nerve endings which can initially increase pain (shockwave therapy can definitely smart at the beginning) but with the continued use of the shocks, the substance P levels drop and there is a significant analgesic effect.
Lowering substance P levels refuces pain and inflammation which create a better environment for tissue healing and repair.
Shockwave therapy also stimulates the release of various growth factors, primarily vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and fibroblast growth factor (FGF). These growth factors are key for tissue repair and regeneration.
Additionally, the release of other growth factors contribute to angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and cell proliferation. All aiding in the acceleration of tissue healing.
Around 80% of people experience significant improvement in their condition from only 4-6 sessions of shockwave therapy. That’s huge. And by significant, I mean 70-85% improvement. And this improvement is long-term! There aren’t many modalities that can boast the same.
Two areas that have been shown to have excellent recovery with shockwave therapy are plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. It can be used for a range of other conditions like tennis elbow and calcific tendinitis in the shoulder.
I’m now offering Shockwave Therapy at my physio clinic in Corryong. No referral necessary, and no long waiting lists. Call me on 0401072434 to book in.
