What is Shockwave Therapy?
What conditions does Shockwave Therapy treat?
Is Shockwave Therapy effective?
What to expect from a Shockwave treatment
Our Shockwave machines
Is Shockwave Therapy safe?
Prices

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave - or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a NON-INVASIVE treatment that uses high energy sound waves (or pressure waves) into damaged tissues to provide pain relief, accelerate healing and stimulate cell regeneration to provide faster and more effective healing.

There are two types of shockwave therapy: RADIAL and FOCUSED. Here at Loughton Osteopaths we use Radial Shockwave Therapy using a handheld device to deliver these pressure waves to the site of injury.

Shockwave Therapy can be used to treat long-term injuries that haven’t responded to other treatments such as steroid injections. In some conditions it can offer an alternative to steroid injections and/or surgery.

What conditions does Shockwave Therapy treat?

Shockwave Therapy can be used to treat various musculoskeletal injuries, in particular those that are chronic or persistent. It offers an alternative when other treatments such as steroid injections, medication and physiotherapy have failed.

Conditions treated include:

• - Achilles Tendinopathy/tendonitis (Inflammation, swelling or pain in the achilles tendon)
• - Plantar fasciitis ( Heel pain with or without heel spur)
• - Patella tendinopathy - (Jumper’s knee)
• - Frozen Shoulder
• - Greater trochanteric pain syndrome/ bursitis (outer hip pain or hip bursitis)
• - Tennis and Golfer's elbow
• - Calcific tendonitis (calcium deposit build up in tendon)

Is Shockwave Therapy effective?

Results vary between 70-90 % response rate depending on the condition being treated. Shockwave, combined with appropriate rehabilitation increases the success rate and reduces the chance of relapse.

There is a large body of evidence that support the benefits of
Shockwave Therapy. It is used in top orthopaedic hospitals, the NHS and by professional sports bodies. Shockwave Therapy is also NICE guideline approved for many musculoskeletal conditions.

Long term outcomes are excellent (post 1 year) where as other treatments can be short lived.

What to expect from a Shockwave Treatment

Shockwave sessions are relatively short, typically 15-20 minutes. Some people may experience mild discomfort during the session but it should be tolerable. The intensity of the pressure waves can be adjusted as required. Many people feel some immediate pain relief after the session due to the analgesic effects of the Shockwave. It is common to feel some low level pain for a few hours post treatment.

Our Shockwave machine

The machine used at Loughton Osteopaths is a Radial Shockwave machine developed by Storz, the leading manufacturer in Shockwave technology. Machines are CE certified (meaning the device complies with EU legislation for health, safety and quality).

Is Shockwave Therapy safe?

Yes - Shockwave has NICE guidance for a large number of conditions within the NHS. Performed by trained clinicians and health care professionals it is largely risk free

Prices