Many of us have heard the term shock wave therapy but don't understand what it means or what it is used for. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has grown in popularity and is used today in the world of physiotherapy, sports injury clinics and in the role of rehabilitation. Below we explore precisely what shock wave therapy is, how it works and its many benefits.
What exactly is shock wave therapy?
Shock wave therapy is a non-invasive treatment focusing on the body's tendons, muscles and joints via high-energy acoustic waves penetrating deep tissue. This energy helps to stimulate blood flow, which then helps cell growth and regeneration.
It can treat various painful conditions such as musculoskeletal conditions, epicondylitis (elbow pain), knee tendinitis, Achilles tendinitis, chronic back pain, hamstring tears, muscle tightness and painful scar tissue.
The benefits of shock wave therapy
As already mentioned, shock wave therapy can be used to treat a variety of painful conditions. One huge benefit is that because the treatment is non-invasive, there is no need for needles or painful injections. It can be fitted into your working day, and there are no nasty side effects following the procedure. It's also a relatively quick procedure that produces quick results. The main benefit is that it is a good option for those patients who do not want or are unsuitable for surgery. It also removes the need for prescription medications and their associated side effects.
It helps to boost the production of collagen
Collagen is naturally produced in the body and is responsible for helping the body to heal after injury. Shock wave therapy can stimulate the production of collagen within the damaged ligaments and tendons of the body, which will help strengthen them and reduce pain.
Breaks up calcium deposits
Calcified fibroblasts can form in damaged tendons, resulting in additional pain when moving and restricting mobility. Shock wave therapy breaks down these calcium deposits that are quickly absorbed by the body.
If you would like more information about shock wave therapy and the services offered by Wimbledon Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic, please contact us today.