Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is commonly used for a number of complex musculoskeletal conditions, including conditions that affect the feet and legs.
At The Foot Hub®, we use the Gymna ShockMaster300 to deliver shockwave therapy treatments to our patients. Research shows that shockwave therapy is an effective way to treat a wide range of foot conditions by reducing pain and promoting healing.
Read on to find out more about how shockwave therapy may help you.
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive approach to treating chronic and complex musculoskeletal conditions. Also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (EWST), shockwave therapy uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing and to help relieve pain.
This type of treatment is administered through the skin, via a small hand-held device similar to an ultrasound wand. The shockwave machine generates radial shockwaves that trigger biological effects in the tissue, which lead to healing.
How does Shockwave work?
Shockwave therapy works by:
- Increasing circulation — Increased blood flow around soft tissue injuries helps speed up healing and recovery
- Stimulating collagen production — This increases tissue regeneration and repair in the injured area.
- Reducing pain — Shockwaves help reduce nerve aggravation in the area which may lead to a direct and immediate reduction in pain.
- Dissolving calcium build-ups — Calcium build-ups may occur as a result of injury and can cause pain and stiffness in the area. Dissolving these can help restore movement.
What conditions can shockwave therapy treat?
Radial shockwave therapy is an effective treatment method for the following conditions:
• Plantar fasciitis¹
• Achilles tendinopathy²
• Tendinopathies in the lower leg³
• Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (Shin Splints)⁴
• Stress Fractures⁵
• Fibromatosis⁶
• Patellar tendinopathy⁷
• Muscle tension⁸
Indications
The Gymna Shockwave Master can be effective in the treatment of:
Tendons
Bones
Muscles
Connective tissue
Neurological disorders
benefits of shockwave therapy
One of the key benefits of shockwave therapy is that the current scientific evidence shows that it is a safe treatment with very few adverse effects.7
Shockwave therapy is also an effective, non-invasive and non-surgical treatment which means very little downtime during your treatment.
It can also be combined with physical therapy and strengthening exercises for further benefits.
Average number of treatments: six to eight
Treatment time: 10 minutes
Is shockwave therapy safe?
You may feel some discomfort during the treatment, depending on the level of pain you’re already experiencing in the area.
Please don’t worry! A skilled podiatrist will work closely with you to mitigate pain by varying the dosage of shocks.
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
Generally, shockwave therapy is a safe therapeutic treatment for most people, when administered by a qualified practitioner. However, some side effects may occur which include:
- discomfort or pain at the site of the therapy
- slight bruising at the site of treatment
- redness of the skin
- localised, mild swelling at the site of treatment.
Who should NOT have shockwave therapy?
Treatment with the ShockMaster is not recommended for people who:
- have coagulation disorders (haemophilia)
- use anticoagulants, especially Marcumar
- have thrombosis
- have tumour diseases or cancer
- are pregnant
- have polyneuropathy in case of diabetes mellitus
- have acute inflammations / pus focus in the target area
- have open epiphyseal discs
- have cortisone therapy up to 6 weeks before first treatment
- wear a pace maker
- have a prosthesis
- have osteoporosis
- have infected wounds
- have large nerves and vessel cavities that contain air (e.g., lung, intestines)
- are at risk of haemorrhaging
- have open scar.
It’s also not recommended for treatment of the:
- cardiac region
- vertebrae, spinal column or head.
Treatment protocol for Shockwave
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment.
Each treatment session lasts between 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the condition to be treated. In general, six to eight treatment sessions will be needed at intervals of one week.
The application is simple, and treatment happens in four easy steps:
Your podiatrist will determine the primary location of the issue by searching for pain points. This will be marked with a skin marker to ensure the handpiece is applied to the correct area.
Gel is applied to the treatment area. This will help improve contact between the skin and the handpiece to allow the shockwaves to penetrate the body and improve its effectiveness properly.
The handpiece is placed on the treatment area and turned on. Radial shockwaves are released into the affected tissue.
Once your Shockwave session is complete, your podiatrist will apply the D-ACTOR for muscle loosening treatment. This helps treat muscle tension, improve blood circulation, and relax trigger points in deep-seated muscles.
How much does Shockwave therapy cost?
One Shockwave Therapy Session
89Includes: 20-minute appointment - application of Radial Shockwave
What you need to know before your appointment
Shockwave therapy treatment will be administered in your initial appointment, if your podiatrist feels treatment will be beneficial.
Treatment duration depends on the number of conditions to be treated. Treatment ranges from 10-30 minutes.
You will need to remove all taping prior to your appointment.
What to expect after your shockwave therapy treatment
Treatment with the ShockMaster may cause the following side effects:
- swelling, reddening, haematomas
- petechiae, pain, irritation of the periosteum
- skin lesions after previous cortisone therapy
- cardiac arrhythmias.
These side effects generally disappear after 5 to 10 days. If you experience severe symptoms or you’re concerned, please contact us as soon as possible.
Of course, your podiatrist will discuss all potential risks and side effects with you prior to treatment. If you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to discuss these with your podiatrist.
faq
Yes. Research has shown that when administered by a qualified practitioner, shockwave therapy is a safe treatment modality with very few side effects (if any). Our Gymna ShockMaster 300 machine is approved for use by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) of Australia.
Shockwave therapy isn’t recommended in some instances so your podiatrist may ask questions to determine if it’s safe for you. It’s important that you answer these honestly.
Following the first session of shockwave, it’s recommended that patients avoid sport and exercise for approximately two to three days. Depending on the outcome of the initial treatment, future sessions may have less downtime.
Shockwave therapy can often be claimed through private health insurance. However, we advise you to check your level of cover.
Our podiatrists are here to help you get back on your feet and can provide personalised advice regarding the suitability of shockwave therapy for your condition.
WebMD, What is Shockwave Therapy?, https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/what-is-shockwave-therapy
Mayo Clinic, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, The evolving use of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in managing musculoskeletal and neurological diagnoses, Feb 4, 2022, https://www.mayoclinic.org/medical-professionals/physical-medicine-rehabilitation/news/the-evolving-use-of-extracorporeal-shock-wave-therapy-in-managing-musculoskeletal-and-neurological-diagnoses/mac-20527246
- Auersperg V, Trieb K. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: an update. EFORT Open Rev. 2020;5(10):584-592. Published 2020 Oct 26. doi:10.1302/2058-5241.5.190067
- Dedes V, Stergioulas A, Kipreos G, Dede AM, Mitseas A, Panoutsopoulos GI. Effectiveness and Safety of Shockwave Therapy in Tendinopathies. Mater Sociomed. 2018;30(2):131-146. doi:10.5455/msm.2018.30.141-146
- Gomez Garcia S, Ramon Rona S, Gomez Tinoco MC, et al. Shockwave treatment for medial tibial stress syndrome in military cadets: A single-blind randomized controlled trial. Int J Surg. 2017;46:102-109. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.08.584
- Beling A, Saxena A, Hollander K, Tenforde AS. Outcomes Using Focused Shockwave for Treatment of Bone Stress Injury in Runners. Bioengineering (Basel). 2023;10(8):885. Published 2023 Jul 25. doi:10.3390/bioengineering10080885
- Fulceri F, Ryskalin L, Morucci G, Busoni F, Soldani P, Gesi M. Pain-Relieving Effects of Shockwave Therapy for Ledderhose Disease: An Ultrasound-Based Study of an Unusual Bilateral Case. Life (Basel). 2024;14(2):169. Published 2024 Jan 24. doi:10.3390/life14020169
- Majidi L, Khateri S, Nikbakht N, Moradi Y, Nikoo MR. The effect of extracorporeal shock-wave therapy on pain in patients with various tendinopathies: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized control trials. BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil. 2024;16(1):93. Published 2024 Apr 24. doi:10.1186/s13102-024-00884-8
- De la Corte-Rodríguez H, Román-Belmonte JM, Rodríguez-Damiani BA, Vázquez-Sasot A, Rodríguez-Merchán EC. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for the Treatment of Musculoskeletal Pain: A Narrative Review. Healthcare (Basel). 2023;11(21):2830. Published 2023 Oct 26. doi:10.3390/healthcare11212830
- Kertzman PF, Fucs PMB. Does radial shock wave therapy works in pseudarthrosis? Prospective analysis of forty four patients. Int Orthop. 2021;45(1):43-49. doi:10.1007/s00264-020-04778-5
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