Shockwave Therapy: Sound Waves Healing Tissues

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Shockwave Therapy Sound waves healing tissues
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What is Shockwave Therapy?

• Shockwave therapy is an effective treatment,
  which utilizes high-energy acoustic waves to
  deliver strong mechanical impulses to the injured
  tissue. Shockwave technology was originally
  applied in medicine to destroy kidney stones but
  has now been shown to also aid in the healing of
  musculoskeletal issues. Inside of the gun
  mechanism, kinetic energy of a small projectile
  is created via compressed air. The kinetic energy
  from the projectile is transferred to the
  transmitter at the end of the gun and
  subsequently into the tissue.

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• The kinetic energy transfer into the tissues
  results in a high-amplitude jump in pressure of
  that tissue. During a single session, a patient
  may receive 1500-2000 of these shocks to the
  injured area. Shockwave therapy has been to be a
  safe and highly effective, non-invasive treatment
  in the management of a number of acute or chronic
  over-use tissue injuries. Shockwave treatments
  have been shown to induce tissue regeneration,
  long-term healing and the repair of pathogenic
  tissues1,2.

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How does it work?

• The high-energy impact of the Shockwave can
  actually accelerate tissue repair and cell growth
  of tendons, bones and muscles. Following
  treatments of Shockwave therapy, treated tissues
  experience long-term tissue regeneration as well
  as an immediate decrease of inflammatory in the
  treated tissue2. This inflammatory response is
  achieved by the production of an enzyme called
  nitric oxide synthase, which leads to an increase
  in nitric oxide in the tissue.

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• An increase of nitric oxide essentially inhibits
  the production of inflammatory cells including
  mast cells in the injured area2. The shockwaves
  themselves also can create micro-ruptures in
  tendons and muscles, which leads to the release
  of growth factors. These growth factors allow for
  a process of remodelling, which can grow existing
  blood vessels and form new ones2. This results in
  increased blood flow to the tissue and long-term
  tissue regeneration.

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• In a nutshell, the increased pressure in tissue
  caused by the shockwaves, initiate the production
  of enzymes, which have anti-inflammatory
  properties. The impact of the Shockwave also
  stimulates the release of growth factors, which
  lead to increased blood flow, and long-term
  healing.

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Is Shockwave right for you?

• Shockwave therapy, through rigorous scientific
  studies, has been shown to be a valuable
  supplemental treatment of many musculoskeletal
  injuries/pathologies.
• Some of the conditions Shockwave therapy has
  been shown to resolve include

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• Plantar Fasciitis
• Tennis Elbow
• Golfers Elbow
• Calcifying Tendonitis of Shoulder (Frozen
  Shoulder)
• Jumpers Knee
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Bursitis

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Want to learn more?

• You can visit
• Integral Physiotherapy Sports Clinic Website.