What is Radial Shockwave Therapy?
Radial Shockwave Therapy is the use and application of sound waves to help cause tissue regeneration.
It is commonly used to treat such ailments as; plantar fasciitis, achilles tendonitis, shin splints, patellar tendonitis, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff issues, piriformis syndrome, and sciatica. It also increases blood flow and stimulates lymphatic drainage as well as relaxes tense muscle tissue. Radial Shockwave can go up to 6cm deep into the tissue allowing practitioners trained in RSWT, the ability to get to tissue that is usually too difficult or impossible to treat with other superficial therapies. Most patients need 3-4 sessions to see reasonable progress and a full 6 weeks post the last shockwave treatment to see full results.
How does it work?
The sound wave is generated by two metals colliding. There is a metal bullet inside the chamber which is pushed by an air compressor into the metal plate of the head and the impact at the head pushes the bullet back towards where the air comes out. This process is repeated in rapid succession to produce sound waves. Ultrasound gel is used over the areas being treated because sound travels best through a more dense medium. As the sound wave passes through tissues with high levels of water in them (ex: healthy tissue) nothing really happens to them, but when the tissue is in low cellular hydration (ex. scar tissue), then they are broken down. The broken down dead cells are then cleaned up by the immune system and the body lays down healthy tissue in it's place. Because Radial Shockwave operates at 1-21 Hz max, no heat is generated. You can also have shockwave treatment before other therapies such as; Chiropractic, acupuncture, physiotherapy or even massage. There are no absolute contraindications to shockwave except that it is not used directly on infected tissues, tumors, a pregnant abdomen or pelvis, genitals, and lungs or eyes.
