What is Shock Wave Therapy?
Here at Shockwave Therapy Cardiff at the Victoria Park clinic we are very pleased to be using the Swiss Dolorclast Master shock wave machine. This is the Machine used to set the NICE guidelines, and most of the evidence around SWT has been undertaken using the same machine as we use right here in Cardiff.
What is shockwave therapy?
The simple answer : shock wave therapy sends soundwaves into the painful area to stimulate healing and pain relief. More technical answer: the shock waves travels from the machine into and through the tissues, where they release energy and have several effects: • Releases substance P, a pain mediator and growth factor. This has both a pain relieving effect, and dilutes the blood vessels, to stimulate circulation and contributes to formation of new bone tissue. • Inhibits the cox II enzyme, to reduce inflammation • Hyperstimulates nerve fibres, blocking an increase in pain stimuli, and intensifies analgesic effect (gate control)
What kind of conditions can Shockwave therapy treat?
Shockwave therapy can treat chronic conditions such as • Plantar Fasciitis/fasciopathy • Achilles tendinopathy • Medial tibial stress syndrome • Tennis elbow/golfer’s elbow • Greater throchanteric pain syndrome • Osgood Schlatter Disease It can also be used to treat cellulitis and wounds, although we don’t specialise in that (yet)
Is shock wave therapy for me?
Most people can have shockwave therapy, there are however some exceptions. You can NOT receive shockwave therapy if • You are pregnant • You are on warfarin or other blood thinning medication • You have had a cortisone injection in the affected tendon in the last 6 weeks • You are under 18 (except for Osgood Schlatter’s disesase)
I’ve heard it’s painful?
We’re not going to lie, having shockwave therapy can be quite painful, although people have different pain thresholds. You generally find it gets less painful through the treatment as the substance P gets released, and it generally gets less painful with each treatment (most people have 3 treatments). The treatment doesn’t take long, though, and most people get pain relief immediately after treatment.
Are there any side effects?
Not side effects as such, but short term reddening of the skin and bruising can occur, they normally disappear after 24-48 hours. After the treatment it is recommended you rest for 24 hours, you can go about daily activities but we recommend you lay off high intensity and high load exercise for 24 hours. We know rest isn’t something active people do well, but you’ve paid for the treatment, might as well get the full effect of it? You can drive after the treatment (provided you could drive before the treatment).
If you’ve any more questions, or want to book an appointment, ring us on 029020 564111
