Radial Shockwave Therapy

So what is this new treatment all about? 

RSWT is not a new technology per se – is has been around since the 1980’s where it was initially developed to treat kidney stones. Shockwave is the application of high-energy acoustic pulses to the body – these are not electric pulses or “shocks” that are used in other electrotherapy modalities such as TENS and interferential that are used in some clinics. 

Acoustic shockwaves from RSWT were initially used to break down the calcific kidney deposits into smaller pieces to allow them to be more easily passed. Incidental findings were later discovered that revealed the other positive health benefits it has for the body’s other types of tissues in helping them to regenerate and repair.

RSWT works by increasing metabolic activity around the affected site. It does this by inducing a small amount of intra tissue bleeding and increasing circulation. This causes an increase in concentration of platelets in the affected area. Platelets contain “growth factors” that trigger the body’s natural inflammatory and healing response. It can also break up stubborn scar tissue and calcific deposits in tendons from chronic overuse.

RSWT is an excellent non-invasive option for people who have been putting up with chronic soft tissue problems where healing seems to have ceased or slowed.

It can be used as an alternative treatment to ABI’s (Autologous Blood Injection) or PRP’s (Platelet Rich Plasma injection) – these are invasive interventions used to induce healing in soft tissues that are stubborn or slowly healing whereby platelets are introduced to an affected area via injection.

What are the conditions that RSWT is commonly used to treat?

·      Shoulder – rotator cuff injuries, bursal impingement, calcific tendonitis

·      Elbow – Golfers and Tennis Elbow

·      Wrist and thumb – tendonitis, RSI and De Quervain’s syndrome

·      Hip – lateral hip pain, trochanteric bursitis, gluteus medius and minimus tendinopathy

·      Knee – Patellar tendinopathy, Runner’s knee, Jumper’s knee

·      Shin – shin splints, medial tibial stress syndrome

·      Ankle - Achilles tendinopathies, low grade tears

·      Foot - Plantar fasciitis/heel spurs

What is involved in the treatment?

RSWT treatment is generally delivered over a minimum three-week period (1x per week for 3 weeks) up to 5-6 times (1x per week for 5-6 weeks) for very stubborn and long-standing problems.

What have been the results so far?

At Prevent we have found that RSWT has helped over 80% of our clients that have previously struggled to overcome a chronic soft tissue problem.

So will it help you?

As with any musculoskeletal problem that you may be experiencing we recommend a thorough assessment to determine what course of treatment is likely to be of most benefit to you.

If you have been putting up with any of the problems listed above and would like to see if we can help then ring the clinic on 8361 8182 today to book an appointment.