What is a shockwave machine, and its benefits?
Shockwave therapy is an adjunctive therapy and is recommended for chronic soft tissue injuries, mostly for patients that have not responded to typical conservative treatment, such as strength and conditioning, supportive footwear, and orthotics just to name a few.
Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis is non-invasive, and highly effective. It does not require anaesthesia and has little to no size-effects. At Sky Podiatry, we have the state-of-the-art shockwave therapy machine, the EMS Dolorcast® Radial Shock Waves, which we use to manage our patient’s pain.
It is important to note that shockwave therapy is an adjunctive treatment that should only be performed after all other pain management options.
So, what is a shockwave machine and how does it work?
A shockwave therapy machine passes short, intense energy sound waves, that travel faster than the speed of sound, into affected tissues. This causes microtrauma, which increases blood flow and stimulates an acute inflammatory response that helps the healing process.
What are the benefits of shockwave therapy?
Reduces pain
First and foremost, the main benefit of shockwave therapy is the reduction of pain and discomfort. Shockwave therapy reduces pain by:
Increasing metabolic activity through improved blood circulation and the formation of new blood vessels.
Stimulating the nerves to help decrease the sensitivity in the area of pain.
Nurturing and increasing the rate of the healing process through cell regeneration, and collogen synthesis.
Breaks up calcification within the tendon which is reabsorbed by the body.
Has an analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect.
Fast treatment
Usually, we see a patient three to six times, about a week apart, for effective, long-term pain reduction. Each session takes around 30 minutes, and most patients see a great reduction in pain after just the first treatment. It is used as an additional treatment designed to reduce pain and address underlying issues in your feet.
Limited side effects
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment, thus carrying a much lower risk of side effects than surgery. Depending on the severity of your pain, overall health, and related podiatry issues, there may be (in very rare cases) side effects to shockwave therapy, including:
Mild pain two to four hours post treatment .
Little discomfort during treatment .
Mild bruising or swelling.
Speedy recovery
After undergoing shockwave therapy, you’ll likely experience a reduction in pain after the first session. Your podiatrist will provide you with more tailored advice on post treatment care, however in general, the recovery period following shockwave therapy is substantially shorter than surgery.
If you are interested in finding out if shockwave therapy is right for you, contact our friendly staff at Sky Podiatry, call us on 03 6732 7838 or book a consultation online today.
Sky Podiatry
Shop 3/220-224 Westbury Rd, Prospect, TAS 7250
(03) 6732 7838
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Sky Podiatry
Target Complex, Shop 5/21 Vermont Rd, Mowbray, TAS 7248
(03) 6724 3171
Google My Business Listing: https://g.co/kgs/rAvA2kG