Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy has been used for many years as an alternative to invasive surgery or traditional rehabilitation for musculoskeletal injury. In circumstances where these injuries fail to respond to conventional treatments, Shockwave therapy often provides effective pain relief and restores normal tissue functioning. Shockwave therapy is a versatile and often very effective treatment for a range of muscle, tendon and joint conditions.

More about Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT)

Heel Pain

Heel pain is a very common, yet debilitating condition affecting the connective tissue that stretches between the heel and the front part of the foot – the plantar fascia. Within the medical world, the term ‘plantar fasciitis’ is used to describe pain on the bottom of your foot, around your heel and in the arch. The pain from plantar fasciitis is typically felt when you start walking after sleeping or resting and less painful during exercise. We call this classic rest to rise pain. It is not always clear what causes plantar fasciitis but it may have been caused by:

  • Poor, altered or changed foot structure, e.g. flat foot or high arches
  • A recent increase in exercise (often with the above foot structural issues)
  • Tight calf muscles and/ or structural foot misalignment (functional or structural equinus)
  • Poor footwear and/ or wearing inappropriate heel heights
  • A recent increase in body mass 
  • Occupational standing

*Please note this list is not exhaustive and our clinicians will advise on an individual basis

Here at Northernhay Clinic we utilise our knowledge of the lower limb in combination with the non-invasive, therapeutic effects of Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) to relieve you of your heel pain as quickly as possible. 

Achilles Tendinopathy

The Achilles tendon is a spiralling band of tissue, the largest in the body, that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone at the back of the leg. Within the medical world, the term Achilles tendonitis is often used to describe pain around the Achilles tendon. This includes morning stiffness which eases after walking for a few minutes, also tenderness over the the Achilles when gently squeezed (sometimes the tendon may be thickened) and a swollen appearance. As with other soft tissue injuries, it is not always clear what causes Achilles tendonitis but it may have been caused by:

  • Poor, altered or changed foot structure, e.g. flat foot or high arches
  • A recent increase in exercise or poor training progression (often with the above foot structural issues)
  • Tight calf muscles and/ or structural foot mis-alignment (functional or structural Equinus)
  • Poor footwear and/ or wearing inappropriate heel heights
  • A recent increase in body mass

*Please note this list is not exhaustive and our clinicians will advise on an individual basis

Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) can be used to restore function and reduce your achilles tendon pain, allowing you to return to the activities you love.

For more information about shockwave and how it works, please scroll down the page. Alternatively, contact us to book an assessment.

Knee Pain

Knee Pain can result from sudden injury or from overuse. It can also be caused by other underlying conditions such as osteoarthritis. Knee pain is often a multifactorial injury, a combination of different factors which contribute to its onset. An in-depth and comprehensive assessment of your knee and lower limb by one of our experienced clinicians is required to establish a working diagnosis of the origin of your pain. Following a detailed assessment our experienced team at Northernhay Clinic will be able to utilise Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) to help alleviate your pain.

Knee Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a condition that causes your joints to become stiff and painful. As part of normal life our joints are exposed to low level damage. A healthy body repairs this damage itself. If you suffer from osteoarthritis the protective cartilage on the ends of your bones breaks down. This will cause pain, swelling and problems moving your joint. Bony growths can also develop and the area can become inflamed (red and swollen). The exact cause of osteoarthritis is not fully known. Often osteoarthritis is associated with joint injury, increasing age, familial history of osteoarthritis and obesity.

When considering the treatment options available for knee osteoarthritis, mild symptoms can sometimes be managed with simple measures. These measures include regular exercise, reducing body mass if overweight and choosing suitable footwear. A course of Shockwave therapy for chronic knee osteoarthritis is often highly successful.

Jumper’s knee

Jumper’s knee is also known as patellar tendonitis. It is characterised by the inflammation of your patellar tendon. This tendon connects your knee cap (patella) to your shinbone (tibia). Jumper’s knee weakens your tendon. If untreated it can lead to tears in your tendon.

Jumpers knee is often an overuse injury. It is usually a sports related injury linked to muscle contraction and the force of hitting the ground. This can strain your tendon. With repeated stress your tendon might get inflamed.

Jumper’s knee is common in athletes who perform repetitive jumping sports (e.g. basket ball or volley ball). It may sometimes also occur in those who do not participate in jumping sports.

At an early stage you may feel this pain only as you begin to exercise or following bouts of intense activity. As the condition progresses this pain can become increasingly worse. The pain may also begin to interfere with your sporting activities and daily movements such as climbing stairs. It is not always clear what is causing your patella tendonitis but as with other tendon problems it may have been caused by:

  • Poor, altered or changed foot structure, e.g. flat foot or high arches
  • Performing repetitive jumping movements as part of a sport
  • A recent increase in exercise or poor training progression (combined with foot structural issues)
  • Tight calf muscles and/ or structural foot misalignment (functional or structural equinus)
  • Muscular imbalance causing an uneven pull on the Patella Tendon
  • Poor footwear and/ or wearing inappropriate heel heights
  • A recent increase in body mass 

*Please note this list is not exhaustive and our clinicians will advise on an individual basis

Shin Pain

‘Shin splints’ is the commonly used terminology to refer to pain on the lower portion of the front of your leg. This pain, often as a result of overuse, can be very debilitating and prevent you from exercising. It has the propensity to get worse if not treated professionally. Within the medical world, the term ‘shin splints’ is more appropriately referred to as Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS). The pain experienced as part of MTSS tends to begin soon after starting exercise. It gradually improves during resting. Starting as a dull ache, it often progresses to sharp and severe. It affects both shins and is felt over a large area. It is not always clear what causes MTSS, but it is likely to have been brought on by running or repetitive weight bearing on the legs. 

In addition to this, there are a number of factors that can predispose you to developing MTSS, including:

  • Poor, altered or changed foot structure, e.g. flat foot or high arches
  • A recent increase in exercise or poor training progression (often with the above foot structural issues)
  • Running on hard surfaces
  • Tight calf muscles and/ or structural foot misalignment (functional or structural equinus)
  • Poor footwear and/ or wearing inappropriate heel heights
  • A recent increase in body mass

There are various forms of Shin Pain and RSWT is in no way appropriate for them all. Your Podiatrist will advise whether RSWT could help your symptoms. 

The most common forms of Shin Pain treated with RSWT are Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (MTSS) & Posterior Tibial Tendinopathy. 

Hip Bursitis

Hip bursitis is the most common cause of pain around the outside upper hip joint area.  

A bursa functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between moving tissues of the body. If you suffer from hip bursitis this bursa has become inflamed.  There are two major bursae in the hip, one on the outside (the greater trochanteric bursa) and one on the inside (the iliopsoas bursa). It is typically the greater trochanteric bursa that becomes inflamed (bursitis).  Trochanteric bursitis describes pain and tenderness on the outside of the hip and thigh that can make it uncomfortable to lie on the affected side. This can often disturb your sleep. It may also cause a dull, burning pain on the outer hip which gets worse with activity, such as walking. Trochanteric bursitis can affect anyone but is most often seen in middle-aged and older females. The following risk factors are associated with its development:

  • Poor, altered or changed foot structure, e.g. flat foot or high arches
  • Hip injury, such as falling onto, knocking, or lying on your hip
  • A recent increase in exercise or poor training progression (often with the above foot structural issues) 
  • Systemic disease, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis 
  • Poor footwear and/ or wearing inappropriate heel heights

RSWT can be very effective in the treatment of Hip Bursitis.

Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy

Proximal hamstring tendinopathy affects the hamstring tendons where they attach to the ischium of the pelvis. It can be very painful and is often described as lower buttock pain that eases during exercise but usually returns. It is quite common on professional athletes, gym goers and runners.

RSWT can be extremely beneficial for Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy.

What You Need to Know About RSWT

Shockwave therapy is administered externally (extra-corporeally) by a portable device. This device delivers inaudible shock waves which penetrate the skin and spread through the injured tissue(s). Radial shockwaves act as a catalyst to initiate an inflammatory-like response, prompting the body to react naturally and stimulate healing.

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New Blood Vessel Formation

Nutrients in the blood are essential to start the repair processes of damaged tissue. The application of Radial Shockwaves creates capillary microruptures that stimulates new blood vessel formation.

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Reversal of Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s natural healing process. However, chronic inflammation can occur when the inflammatory response is not completely halted, resulting in damage to healthy tissue leading to chronic pain. RSWT can ‘kickstart’ the inflammatory process – think of it like a biological highlighter pen.

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Stimulation of Collagen production

Collagen production is necessary for the repair of damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments. RSWT accelerates procollagen synthesis, helping to repair and remodel tendons more efficiently. 

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Breakdown of Calcifications

Calcium build-up is quite common in chronic tendon problems and can occur after micro-tears or other trauma to a tendon. RSWT disperse the calcifications, leading to less friction on the tendon fibres.

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Dispersion of Substance P

Substance P is a neurotransmitter that controls pain information through the C-fibers (nerve fibres). It is generally associated with chronic pain, longstanding pain. RSWT has been shown to disperse this neuropeptide. 

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Release of 'Trigger Points'

Trigger Points are essentially small parts of the muscle (sarcomeres) that have become dysfunctional. They contract so tightly that they begin to cut off their own blood supply and waste products build up in the tissue. This irritates the sensory nerve endings, causing even more contraction. This vicious cycle is referred to as “metabolic crisis”. RSWT is thought to cause a reversal to this metabolic crisis and restore normal muscle fucntion. 

Contact Us Today

Flexible appointments. Online Video Consultations.

0044 (0) 1392 259101

info@northernhayclinic.com

39 Northernhay St, Exeter, EX4 3ER