In recent years, few physical therapy treatments have grown quite as much as shockwave therapy. Using highly-controlled acoustic (sound) waves, this modality of treatment carefully targets ligaments, tendons, and other connective tissue that have become inflamed, stimulating the body’s natural healing process.
Shockwave therapy was initially discovered in the context of urology when it was found that higher-power acoustic waves could actually dissolve gall and kidney stones within the body. Since then, the technology has been adapted to fit other applications, and it’s now commonplace in veterinary care, orthopedics, and of course, physiotherapy and sports medicine.
So what is it that makes shockwave therapy so useful for people experiencing chronic pain, inflammation, and limited mobility? Here are the top 6 benefits of shockwave therapy as a physio treatment!
1. Shockwave therapy can help what more standard treatments can’t
If you’ve ever injured a knee, ankle, shoulder, or elbow in your day-to-day life, there are probably a few things you always do as basic treatment. For most, this includes rest, icing the area, and therapeutic exercises, as well as perhaps an over-the-counter painkiller. And while these can be great for minor strains and injuries, they may not always work.
It’s in cases like this, where an injury isn’t helped by basic treatment, that shockwave therapy comes into play. It acts as a middle-ground between the accessible but sometimes ineffective care, and more serious options like invasive surgeries. Shockwave therapy is the best of both worlds, offering both quick relief and long-lasting results.
2. Shockwave therapy is low-risk and non-invasive
On the note of surgeries, they’re an option that’s often recommended for more serious, treatment-resistant conditions. And while these can help in the long-term, they generally require a lengthy recovery time, and carry other risks. Even if everything goes to plan with surgery, you won’t be doing much of your preferred activities for at least a month or two.
Shockwave therapy, however, can provide long-lasting relief and treatment to problems with connective tissue, and doesn’t require much recovery time – usually just a couple of days for the natural inflammation to go down. Shockwave therapy also carries virtually no risk, since the power level of the acoustic waves is carefully controlled by your physiotherapist at all times. With both of these benefits in mind, it’s clear to see why so many athletes and people with other injuries opt for shockwave therapy before turning to surgery.
3. Shockwave therapy is customizable
In all parts of physiotherapy, custom patient care is a central part of the process. While our bodies share much in common, subtle details are completely different from person to person. It’s vital for physio care to keep these variations in mind, and this is no different for shockwave therapy.
When you work with a knowledgeable, experienced physio like the ones at Nova Physiotherapy for shockwave therapy, they’ll sit down with you for a consultation before anything else. This is their chance to get to know you and your body’s capabilities, allowing them to create a customized plan for shockwave therapy.
A good shockwave therapy treatment plan includes:
- How often the sessions are
- How long each session is
- Where on the body to treat
- How much acoustic power to use
These should all be flexible parts of the therapy process and will ensure you’re comfortable as you make a swift recovery.
4. Shockwave therapy reduces recovery time
The number one reason people try shockwave therapy is to reduce the time they spend healing from an injury or physical condition. It can significantly reduce the time you spend recovering.
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate your injured soft tissues, promoting healthy inflammation and speeding up your natural healing process. Compared to resting at home and doing basic injury care, you can expect to be back to life as usual about twice as quickly with shockwave therapy!
5. Shockwave therapy can be used in many areas of the body
The body is full of sensitive connective tissues that can easily become inflamed, painful, or immobile. Shockwave therapy is able to target all of these vulnerable areas, providing relief and recovery wherever you need it most.
Shockwave therapy can be used to treat issues in these areas of the body:
- Shoulders/rotator cuffs
- Feet
- Elbow joints
- Knees
- Achilles tendon
- Strained neck and back muscles
- Shins
- Muscle insertion points (muscles connected to bones with tendons)
- And more!
6. Shockwave therapy also provides results in the short and long term
Another huge draw of shockwave therapy is its knack for providing quick relief and long-lasting recovery. Whereas ice and rest might help out in the immediate term, you’ll likely be doing a lot of that before you feel well enough to fully return to your usual lifestyle. More drastic options like surgery, on the other hand, can profoundly help your recovery but will leave you very physically limited as you heal.
Shockwave therapy can provide relief and results – not just a painkilling effect – within just a couple of sessions. And after a few weeks of consistent therapy, your muscles, tendons, and ligaments will have had the chance to heal, recover, and strengthen. This means that shockwave therapy not only helps you with the immediate symptoms, but actually pushes you towards a healthy, happy future as well.
Getting shockwave therapy in Port Coquitlam/Coquitlam/Tri-Cities, BC
There are countless injuries and issues that may benefit from shockwave therapy, one of the most powerful innovations in the physical rehab industry. At Nova Physiotherapy, we’re excited to be offering shockwave therapy to all who need it, including (but not limited to) people with:
- Jumper’s knee
- Tennis and golfer’s elbow
- Heel spurs and plantar fasciitis
- Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
- Shoulder pain
- Tendinitis and tendinosis
- Muscle insertion pain
- Achilles tendonitis
- Bursitis
So if you’re experiencing one of those issues, or any other physical problem that is causing pain and lack of mobility, we can help. Using our vast experience in physical rehab and the tools of the trade, we can use shockwave therapy and other tools to help you feel 100% and get back to life as usual.
To learn more about shockwave therapy, its benefits as a physio treatment, or to book your initial consultation right away, don’t hesitate to contact the team at Nova Physiotherapy!
