Shockwave therapy is a natural and non-invasive treatment that takes your body and mind toward natural healing. It is usually practiced by someone who knows therapy of sorts as it is not a typical intervention.
In this therapy, the shockwaves emitted in your muscles heal the damaged tissues thus relieving pain. usually gives results within weeks, if not days. It is focused on particular areas rather than a holistic treatment, which works better for targeted injury relief.
Who should get Shockwave therapy?
Since it is a treatment that is injury-focused, it is mostly availed by athletes with tendon and ligament injuries. People with musculoskeletal conditions are recommended to get shockwave therapy done.
If your pain has prolonged and is getting chronic, which means that it is not subsiding for six weeks, you need to seek professional treatment for it. In such instances, your home remedies, balms, and painkillers seem to be ineffective. Some of the treatments that often require Shockwave therapy are tennis elbow, Achilles, plantar fasciitis, jumpers knee, and calcific tendinitis amongst others.
How does Shockwave therapy work?
Many times shockwave therapy is administrated by your physical trainer as they know your threshold and health history much better. For the therapy, you may require to be in the clinic with your physical trainer. This usually applies to athletes who have trainers as their guide.
The shockwaves stimulates the cells that promote healing and production of new bone. This brings together the tendons, diminishing pain with time.
This whole process is practiced by a device that releases these shockwaves into our skin, increasing blood flow and growth of hormones.
Types of Shockwave Therapy
Primarily, there are two types of shockwave therapy; radial and focused. Below are some key points regarding both for a better understanding.
Radial Therapy
These are practiced when your affected area is larger with superficial indications. It is ideal for conditions like a tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, or even Achilles tendon. The shockwaves are penetrated into the tissues, that are closer to the bone for better results.
Focused Therapy
As the name suggests, it causes deep stimulation in the affected areas and releases growth hormones and cells that regenerate tissues and initiate the healing process.
How long does it take for Shockwave therapy to work?
Being in the business for quite some years, it is safe to say that it takes six to eight sessions to feel a significant difference in the pain. This can be anytime from one month to three months, depending on the length and intensity of each session.
All the more reasons to get Shockwave Therapy
During this regenerative process, many changes take place for the betterment of your well-being. Some of the key benefits are mentioned below:
- It is rather effective therapy that takes place within a short time span. So, if you are running short on time, don’t worry about staying in shockwave therapy for longer than 20 minutes
- It improves your blood supply, making new blood vessels pumping your oxygen to be better
- Boosts the production of collagen, helping the tendons to create a stiffer and firmer structure
- It is known to cure chronic pain that has been in your body for years. It can also be paired with another therapy with better and improved results, such as laser therapy
- Shockwave Therapy gives you the desired results with a non-invasive treatment. It elimates the prospect of surgery, giving you a stress-free option to rely on
The conditions it treats
More focused on treating tendon and ligaments, it is also good to treat muscle tightness and the impact of trauma on your body. Some conditions to mention are:
- Jumper’s knee
- Shoulder pain
- Heel spurs
- Hip pain
- Tennis elbow
- Tendinopathy
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should not get shockwave therapy done?
If you are suffering from a tumor or lymph, shockwave therapy is not advised to you. People who are prone to blood clotting should also avoid getting this treatment done.
What should you avoid after your therapy?
Avoid doing anything that will tire you easily or requires heavy lifting for at least 48 hours.
How long does it take to heal from the session?
Roughly, it takes 24 hours to heal from one session but it is advised to be cautious for 48 hours.
How many sessions can you take per week?
On average, you can take a session once a week which adds up to four per month.
Can I take more frequent sessions for quicker recovery?
If you think taking frequent sessions will help you in quick healing, know that it will actually have adverse effects. It can lead to delayed healing and excessive bleeding.