How Does Shock Therapy Work in Physiotherapy? Shock Wave Machine

What is Actually a Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is like giving your body a tiny, controlled explosion to help it heal itself faster. It has become very popular in physiotherapy for treating various muscle and joint problems. This treatment is noninvasive, which means it doesn’t involve surgery or injections. Instead, it uses high-energy sound waves to help heal the affected areas, reduce pain, and improve function. Here we will know about how does shock therapy work in physiotherapy.

The therapy sends powerful sound waves through the skin to the injured area. These waves increase blood flow, reduce inflammation, and break down calcium deposits, which help the body heal faster. Shockwave therapy is effective for conditions like heel pain, tendinitis, and chronic shoulder, elbow, and knee pain.

Patients usually receive this treatment in a clinic, where a physiotherapist uses a handheld device to deliver the sound waves. Each session lasts about 15-20 minutes, and most people find it tolerable, with only minor discomfort. Shockwave therapy is an excellent option for many people because it offers a safe and effective way to treat pain without surgery. Shockwave therapy uses gentle but powerful sound waves to speed up your body’s healing process and ease pain.

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Understanding shockwave therapy

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Understanding Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy uses a particular machine to create sound waves sent to a specific body area. Unlike traditional ultrasound therapy, which uses continuous sound waves, shockwave therapy sends quick bursts of energy to target specific tissues. This helps treat deep conditions that might not respond well to other treatments.

The machine used in shockwave therapy has three main parts: a generator that makes the shockwaves, a transmitter, and a treatment head that directs the waves to the target area. There are two kinds of shockwave therapy. One type focuses the sound waves on a single spot, like aiming a laser. The other spread the waves over a wider area. Radial shockwaves, on the other hand, spread out over a broader area, affecting a larger region.

This unique approach allows healthcare providers to effectively treat various muscle and joint problems, promoting healing and pain relief in areas that are hard to reach with other treatments.

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How does shock therapy work

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work in Physiotherapy?

Shockwave therapy helps healing and reduces pain through several vital processes:

  • Enhanced Blood Circulation: The shockwaves increase local blood flow, which helps remove toxins and inflammation while delivering essential nutrients to the area. Better circulation speeds up healing.
  • Collagen Production: The therapy activates fibroblasts, cells that produce collagen. Collagen is crucial for repairing and regenerating tissues, especially in tendons and ligaments, and it is also essential for healing injuries.
  • Pain Reduction: Shockwave therapy changes how pain signals are sent to the brain, providing immediate relief. It also has an analgesic effect that helps patients manage chronic pain conditions.
  • Tissue Regeneration: The mechanical effects of the shockwaves create tiny injuries in the treated tissue, which stimulates the body’s natural healing response. This process helps repair damaged tissues, aiding recovery from sprains, strains, and chronic tendonitis.
  • Breaking Down Calcifications: Shockwaves can break up calcium deposits in tendons or fascia, improving mobility and reducing pain associated with calcific shoulder tendinopathy.

By using these processes, shockwave therapy effectively promotes healing, reduces pain, and improves the function of muscles and joints.

Conditions treated with shockwave therapy

Conditions Treated with Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy can treat many different aches and pains, including:

  • Plantar Fasciitis: Shockwave therapy can help soothe sore heels. It’s often used to treat a painful condition called plantar fasciitis. This treatment helps heal the damaged tissue in your heel and reduce swelling.
  • Achilles Tendonitis: Shockwave therapy helps improve blood flow and collagen production, accelerating healing in chronic Achilles tendon problems.
  • Tennis and Golfer’s Elbow: This therapy effectively treats pain and dysfunction associated with epicondylitis by targeting the affected tendons.
  • Shoulder Pain: Conditions such as calcific shoulder tendinopathy respond well to shockwave therapy. It helps break down calcifications and improves joint mobility.
  • Hip and Knee Pain: People suffering from chronic hip or knee issues can experience symptom relief through the regenerative effects of shockwaves.

By addressing these conditions, shockwave therapy provides an effective treatment option, promoting healing and reducing pain for various musculoskeletal problems.

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Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy offers several advantages in physiotherapy:

  • Noninvasive: Unlike surgeries, shockwave therapy doesn’t require cuts or injections, making it a safer choice for many patients.
  • Minimal Side Effects: Shockwave therapy usually doesn’t hurt. Most people feel minimal discomfort after the treatment. If there is any problem, it’s usually just a slight redness or swelling where the treatment was done.
  • Quick Treatment Sessions: Treatment sessions are fast and easy. Each one only takes about 15 to 30 minutes.
  • Faster Recovery: Shockwave therapy can help you heal faster, allowing you to return to your everyday life and activities more quickly.
  • Practical Pain Management: Many patients report significant pain relief after just a few sessions, leading to an improved quality of life and increased functionality.
  • Reduced Dependence on Medications: By naturally alleviating pain, shockwave therapy can reduce the need for medication or more invasive treatments.

These benefits make shockwave therapy an effective and convenient option for treating various musculoskeletal conditions.

Shockwave therapy is a new way for physiotherapists to help people heal. It’s a safe and easy way to treat old aches and pains in muscles and joints. By using sound waves, it helps your body repair itself and feel better. Sessions are quick, usually lasting 15 to 30 minutes, and most patients experience little to no discomfort afterward. We must have to know how does shock therapy work.

There are still ongoing studies to determine how effective shockwave therapy is for different conditions, and more research is needed to understand how it works fully and its potential uses. However, current evidence shows that shockwave therapy is promising in physiotherapy and can significantly help patients seeking pain relief and better function. As technology improves, we may see even more advancements in shockwave therapy and its applications in physiotherapy.

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Some Words

It is important to remember that shockwave therapy should always be performed by a trained professional, as incorrect use or dosage can cause negative effects. If you are thinking about shockwave therapy, talk to a qualified physiotherapist to see if it is the right choice for your condition. With the proper treatment and care, shockwave therapy can significantly improve patients’ lives and mobility. Keep moving, and live well!

So, whether you’re dealing with chronic pain or recovering from an injury, remember that shockwave therapy is a great option to help you feel better and improve your quality of life. Talk to a physiotherapist to see if shockwave therapy is right for you. Keep moving and live well!

There are always new advancements in physiotherapy, so staying informed and exploring all treatment options with a trained professional is essential. With proper care, you can overcome pain and injuries and live an active, healthy life. Keep moving, and live well!

Don’t let pain or injuries hold you back. Consider shockwave therapy and other physiotherapy treatments to help you achieve optimal health and mobility. With determination, proper care, and dedication, you can overcome any obstacle and keep moving forward. Live well!

 

Written by.

Dr. Saiful Islam, PT
BPTh (DU), MPTh (Orthopedics) – NIPS, India
PG Certificate in Acupuncture, India
Specially trained in Ozone Therapy, USA and Ozone Forum, India.
Physiotherapy Consultant, Vision Physiotherapy Center.

To consult: +8801760-636324 , +8801932-797229 (9:00 AM to 9:00 PM) and make an appointment.
Our Facebook page: Vision Physiotherapy Center

 

SOURCES

Boston Children’s Hospital- Shockwave Therapy | Boston Children’s Hospital

WebMD- Shockwave Therapy: Healing With Low-Energy Shockwaves

Utswmed- How shockwave therapy helps heal sports and overuse injuries

Shockwave Canada- About Shockwave Therapy

 

FAQ

Shock therapy doesn't hurt. People are asleep during the treatment.

Shock therapy works by sending a small electric current to the brain to cause a seizure. This helps reset the brain and helps people feel better.

Yes, shock therapy can sometimes cause memory problems, but these are usually temporary.

Shock therapy can help people feel much better when other treatments haven't worked. It can be beneficial for severe depression.

Shock therapy can sometimes cause memory problems and headaches.

If shock therapy doesn't help, you can try other things. Your doctor might suggest different medicines, talking therapy, or other treatments for your brain. It's important to keep trying different things to find what works best.

It's called shock therapy because it uses electricity to cause a seizure in the brain. This might sound scary, but it's done while the person is asleep and helps many people feel better.

Author - Dr Saiful Islam

Consultant Physiotherapist
BPT (DU), MPT (Ortho)
PGC in Acupuncture (India)
Specially trained in Ozone therapy

Dr. Saiful Islam
Dr. Saiful Islam

Consultant Physiotherapist
BPT (DU), MPT (Ortho)
PGC in Acupuncture (India)
Specially trained in Ozone therapy

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