The Technical Side of Shockwave Therapy: How It Works and Its Impact on Healing
At Activate Physiotherapy, we harness the power of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions. While you might have already heard about shockwave therapy, this article dives deeper into the technical aspects, explaining how shockwaves and cavitation affect the body’s tissues, their penetration depth, and the benefits for conditions like plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bursitis, and fracture healing.
We want you to know all about Shockwave Therapy, its advantages, how it works, what the research says and why it’s becoming a sought-after treatment in Brisbane.
Understanding Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy involves the delivery of high-energy sound waves to the affected area. These sound waves travel through the skin and create a series of rapid pressure changes, which in turn produce both primary and secondary therapeutic effects.
The Mechanisms: Shockwaves and Cavitation
Shockwaves:
-
- Energy Propagation: Shockwaves are acoustic waves that carry high energy to painful spots and musculoskeletal tissues with subacute, subchronic, and chronic conditions. The energy promotes regeneration and reparative processes of the bones, tendons, and other soft tissues.
- Mechanical Stress: When these waves are applied, they create mechanical stress that can break down fibrous or calcified tissue. This mechanical stress is beneficial for conditions like calcific tendonitis, where calcium deposits are present.
Cavitation:
-
-
- Microbubble Formation: The rapid pressure changes also cause the formation of tiny gas bubbles within the tissue fluids, a phenomenon known as cavitation.
- Bubble Collapse: When these microbubbles collapse, they produce secondary shockwaves. This collapse creates microtrauma, which stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, increasing blood flow and promoting tissue repair.
-
Penetration Depth and Focus
- Radial vs. Focused Shockwaves: There are two primary types of shockwaves used in therapy—radial and focused. Radial shockwaves spread out from the application point and are ideal for superficial conditions, while focused shockwaves can penetrate deeper tissues.
- Depth of Penetration: Radial ESWT typically penetrates up to 4-5 cm deep, making it suitable for treating conditions affecting tendons, muscles, and superficial bone structures.
How Shockwave Therapy Benefits Specific Conditions
Plantar Fasciitis:
-
- Pain Reduction: Shockwaves reduce inflammation and pain by desensitizing nerve endings in the plantar fascia.
- Tissue Regeneration: The therapy stimulates collagen production and promotes the healing of the damaged plantar fascia.
Tendonitis:
-
-
- Tendon Repair: Shockwaves induce neovascularization, which enhances blood supply and accelerates tendon repair.
- Calcification Breakdown: For calcific tendonitis, the mechanical stress helps break down calcium deposits, allowing the body to reabsorb them.
-
Bursitis:
-
- Inflammation Reduction: The anti-inflammatory effects of shockwave therapy help reduce the swelling and pain associated with bursitis.
- Enhanced Mobility: By reducing inflammation, shockwave therapy can improve joint mobility and function.
Fracture Healing:
-
- Bone Regeneration: Shockwave therapy stimulates osteoblast activity, which is essential for bone healing and regeneration.
- Accelerated Healing: The therapy can significantly reduce the healing time for fractures by promoting quicker bone remodelling.
The Biological Response
- Cellular Effects: At the cellular level, shockwave therapy promotes the release of growth factors and cytokines, which play critical roles in the healing process.
- Neovascularization: The formation of new blood vessels (neovascularization) enhances blood flow to the treated area, providing essential nutrients and oxygen for tissue repair.
- Collagen Synthesis: Increased collagen production helps in rebuilding and strengthening tendons and ligaments.
Shockwave Therapy and Pain Relief
As well as the biological responses to therapy, Shockwave produces a significant benefit to patient’s pain levels. It does this by stimulating the body to release a chemical called substance P. This chemical bombards the nerve fibres responsible for transmitting pain rendering them unable to send pain signals for a time.
To explain it further we will use an example of eating spicy food that most people will have done at some point. The red chilli peppers that cause spice contain a chemical called capsaicin. At first this substance overwhelms the so-called C nerve fibers responsible for transmitting pain but in doing so it then disables them for an extended period of time.
Everybody knows the feeling – first, the mouth is on fire, then it feels completely numb. Research has indicated that shock wave therapy works the same way.
Shockwave Treatment in Brisbane
At Activate Physiotherapy, we offer shockwave therapy treatments in Brisbane as part of our holistic approach to healthcare. Our skilled practitioners are trained to combine traditional physiotherapy techniques with evidence-based shockwave therapy to enhance and speed your recovery tailored to your individual needs.
This means we will have you back to doing what you love sooner!
Experience the Benefits of Shockwave Therapy at Activate Physiotherapy
Shockwave therapy is a sophisticated treatment that leverages advanced technology to provide effective relief from various musculoskeletal conditions. By understanding the technical side of how shockwaves and cavitation work, we can appreciate the profound impact this therapy has on tissue healing and pain reduction. Whether you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, bursitis, or fractures, shockwave therapy at Activate Physiotherapy offers a scientifically-backed, non-invasive solution to help you recover and return to your active lifestyle.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, please contact us. We’re here to support your journey to optimal health and wellness.
For more information about shockwave therapy or to book an appointment, head to our shockwave service page or call us at your nearest Brisbane clinic in Stafford or Tingalpa. Let Activate Physiotherapy help you achieve optimal health through the integration of traditional and modern therapeutic techniques.
Source: Maier et al. (2003),
Recent Comments