Conditions That Respond Best to Shockwave Therapy in London, Ontario

If you have been dealing with stubborn tendon or muscle pain that just will not settle, you are not alone, and you may have more options than you think. Shockwave therapy has become a go-to treatment for several persistent injuries, and it is available right here in London, Ontario. Here is a look at how it works and which conditions tend to respond best.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that delivers a series of pressurized air-wave pulses to the injured area. Those pulses stimulate your body’s natural healing response in the muscles, tendons and connective tissue. Because shockwave therapy is non-surgical, it is often used for stubborn injuries that have not improved with other approaches, and many people notice a change within a few sessions. 

A registered physiotherapist administers the treatment, so each session is guided and tailored to your condition. Most treatment plans involve a short series of sessions spaced about a week apart, and each appointment usually takes only a few minutes of actual shockwave application.

Conditions That Respond Best to Shockwave Therapy

While your physiotherapist will always assess your situation first, several conditions tend to respond particularly well to this treatment:

• Plantar fasciitis. This common cause of heel pain develops when the band of tissue along the bottom of your foot becomes irritated. Shockwave can help ease that sharp, first-step pain in the morning.
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow. Pain on the outside or inside of the elbow from overuse often responds well, especially when it has lingered for months.
• Achilles tendonitis. Stiffness and pain in the tendon at the back of your heel can be tough to shake, and shockwave targets the tissue to encourage repair.
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee). Often seen in runners and athletes, this pain just below the kneecap can settle with treatment that prompts the tendon to heal.
• Chronic myofascial pain. Tight, tender trigger points in the muscle can be addressed to relieve ongoing discomfort.

Your physiotherapist may also recommend it for conditions like calcific tendinopathy, hip bursitis and rotator cuff problems.

Who Is a Good Candidate for Shockwave Therapy in London?

Shockwave therapy tends to suit people with subacute or chronic soft-tissue injuries that have not responded to rest, stretching or other therapies. It usually works best as part of a broader physiotherapy plan rather than on its own. If your pain has lasted more than a few weeks and other treatments have only brought short-term relief, you may be a strong candidate. 

It is not recommended if you are pregnant, have an open wound or infection near the treatment area, a circulatory or nerve disorder, or cancer, or if you take blood-thinning medication. The simplest way to know if it is right for you, is a proper assessment.

Ready to tackle that lingering pain? Book a shockwave therapy assessment at Back in Motion Health’s London clinic and let a physiotherapist build a plan around your recovery.

Click here to book with Flora at our London location.