Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a treatment modality used by certain healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists. It is increasingly sought after, and its beneficial effects are well supported in the scientific literature.

When an injury occurs, such as an ankle sprain, the body normally reacts through three different phases to repair the damaged structure.

Inflammatory phase: Increased blood circulation at the injury site helps eliminate waste and prepares the tissues for repair.

Proliferative phase: Cells responsible for tissue healing are delivered to the injured area.

Remodeling phase: The scar tissue gradually aligns to improve its mechanical strength.

Sometimes this process does not occur optimally, which can lead to chronic conditions. In the chronic stage, the healing process is essentially stalled and requires stimulation to help repair the tissues.

This is when shockwave therapy becomes relevant. Radial shockwave therapy sends mechanical waves into the injured tissues to restart the normal healing process. This therapy creates microlesions within the tissues, which stimulates the usual inflammatory response and reactivates the healing phases.

In general, depending on the condition, 3 to 5 shockwave therapy treatments are required to effectively stimulate the inflammatory and proliferative phases. Following these treatments, specific exercises are necessary to support the remodeling phase and ensure optimal alignment of the scar tissue.

According to studies, conditions for which shockwave therapy is most commonly indicated include:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Gluteus medius tendinopathy
• Patellar tendinopathy

Do you have an injury that has persisted for several months? Have you tried regular exercise programs without success? Ask your physiotherapist whether shockwave therapy may be appropriate for your condition.