Is your injury affecting your daily life and preventing you from doing the activities you enjoy? Do you find that pain medication does help, and fear surgery may be the only option?
Let us tell you why shockwave therapy may be the perfect solution for you!
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that involves sending low energy sound waves to injured soft tissue. This process increases blood flow and causes inflammation to the area being treated, resulting in an accelerated healing process.
What To Expect When You Come in For Treatment:
When the body is not able to heal on its own, shockwave therapy can be an effective form of treatment. The physiotherapist will use a small hand held device on the affected area that is connected to a machine that compresses air into sound waves. They will apply some pressure to the affected area and move the hand held device around to treat all of the injured tissue.
Clients should expect to feel some discomfort or slight pain in the area being treated when the physiotherapist is using the shockwave therapy machine on them. This discomfort or pain is alleviated as soon as the treatment is over. Some clients who come in for treatment may experience mild bruising, swelling, pain, numbness or tingling in the treated area; however, this is usually minimal. Following shockwave treatment, clients can go about their activities as normal.
What are the benefits to Shockwave Therapy?
- It is non-invasive.
- It is a non-surgical procedure.
- There are no negative side effects.
- Relief from pain begins almost immediately after treatment.
What Injuries Can Shockwave Therapy Help Treat?
Shockwave therapy can be used to treat a number of different injuries. Individuals experiencing the following injuries are just some of the many that could benefit from this form of treatment:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Heel spurs
- Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Jumper’s knee (patellar tendonitis)
- Bursitis
Pictured above is our physiotherapist, Jennifer, using the shockwave therapy to treat one of our client who experiences plantar fasciitis!
If you are interested in shockwave therapy at HUMAN Integrated Performance or would like more information about how it can help treat your injury, feel free to email us at info@yeghip.com or call us at (780) 862-3111.
FAQ
1. What does shockwave therapy feel like?
Clients have reported that is feels like pluses on the skin. As discussed above, clients may experience slight pain or discomfort in the treated area during the procedure. Usually, treatment only lasts a few minutes, so most clients are able to tolerate the discomfort. That being said, the physiotherapist can adjust the way they use the shockwave depending on how you are feeling.
2. Is shockwave therapy suitable for everyone?
Although shockwave therapy is a safe and effective form of treatment, there are some individuals who are advised against it. Those who should avoid shockwave therapy include: individuals with a blood clotting disorder (as well as those taking blood thinners), individuals who have/ have had bone cancer, individuals with a nerve disorder, individuals who are pregnant, individuals who have an infection in the affected area, individuals with metal pins or plates in the affected area, as well as individuals who have received a steroid injection for the same problem (within 12 weeks). Please consult your doctor prior to seeking out shockwave therapy treatment.