What is Focal Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)?
It is a non-invasive treatment in which a device is used to pass acoustic shockwaves through the skin to the affected area; it can be utilised in the treatment of tendon and bone injury.
The shockwaves stimulate the body’s own healing mechanisms to facilitate the repair of the damaged tendon or bone by increasing blood flow and metabolism. It aids the breakdown of scar tissue and calcification and can also stimulate pain relief.
A normal course of treatment consists of between three and six weekly sessions. More sessions can be considered for chronic conditions and must not be more than two weeks apart. ESWT is best used in conjunction with a comprehensive rehabilitation programme which could include activity modification, an exercise/stretching programme and the use of strapping or orthotics.
What is ESWT used to treat?
ESWT can be effective across a wide range of problems and some examples of such conditions include:
- Plantar fasciitis (heel pain) and Achilles tendinopathy
- Neuromas
- Osteoarthritis
If you would like discuss having shockwave please contact us and book a pre-assessment appointment.