What is shockwave therapy and how does it help patients?

Shockwave therapy is a treatment method in which an applicator is used to direct radial ‘shockwaves’ on the part of the body to be treated. Lots of scientific research has been conducted into shockwave therapy over recent years. An analysis of the published research provides plenty of evidence to substantiate the advantages of shockwave therapy, and shows that there are lots of patients who benefit from the treatment. 

How does shockwave therapy work? 

Once the physiotherapist has determined where the complaint originates, and that shockwave therapy is the correct treatment method to be used, some gel is applied to the painful area. Then the Shockwave device is used. The handpiece contains a fast-moving projectile controlled by a compressor. This projectile transmits energy to the applicator to generate the radial shockwaves, which then spread through and are absorbed by the body. The frequency and pressure of the waves can be adjusted. 

The shockwaves reduce pain partly through the creation of substance P and the hyperstimulation of pain sensors. The body itself regenerates the affected tissues, resulting in the following effects: 

• Improved blood flow and neovascularisation
• Increased growth factors
• More mesenchymal stem cells
• Stimulation of the metabolism 

Shockwave therapy can also reduce calcification and fibrosis. The technique used in shockwave therapy comes from kidney stone pulverisers. The treatment is short term, but patients may experience some sensitivity. The advantage is that treatment only lasts for around 8 to 10 minutes. Shockwave therapy is always combined with training, manual therapy or other physiotherapy techniques during treatment in the practice, and/or exercises that the patient is given to do at home. 

Which complaints is shockwave therapy successfully applied for? 

Shockwave therapy is a good technique for a range of complaints. We divide the complaints into five categories:

1. Tendons
   • The most common tendon complaints that can be treated are painful Achilles tendons, patellar tendons, supraspinatus and lateral (tennis) elbow.
2. Bones 
   • The most common bone pathologies are medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints) and greater trochanteric pain syndrome.
3. Neurological disorders 
   • It is generally accepted that radial shockwave therapy is successful for muscle treatment of spasticity, both in adults with hemiplegia and children with cerebral palsy.
4. Muscles 
   • Treatment of trigger points, muscle pain and muscle hypertonia. 
5. Connective tissue 
   • Known applications for shockwave therapy are plantar fasciopathy, trigger finger and scar tissue. 

What does shockwave therapy look like in the practice?

A radial shockwave therapy device is required to apply shockwave therapy in your practice. The choice of device can simplify the treatment method for the physiotherapist. Gymna ShockMasters are equipped with the intelligent ShockMaster patient Guided Therapy System (pGTS), which adapts the level of treatment to the patient’s complaints and condition. The physiotherapist selects the correct applicator and the device provides a standard treatment based on the pGTS result. 

It’s good to ensure you choose a device that’s still being developed further. This is because shockwave therapy is still evolving, so it’s very beneficial if the treatment software can be updated based on the latest available knowledge. At Gymna, we adapt our treatment parameters and update new disorders in the system, including the treatment protocol, according to recent developments. This helps you keep the ShockMaster up to date with the latest knowledge. 

Shockwave therapy devices are available in various formats. For example, there are portable devices such as the Gymna ShockMaster 300. You can use this device to perform treatments anywhere without any restrictions. Portable devices are compact and have been designed using the ‘plug & play’ principle. In combination with its custom-made carry case, this shockwave device is therefore easy to transport and use in various locations. 

A larger device with extensive options is a better choice for practices that always perform shockwave therapy in the same place as standard. The Gymna ShockMaster 500 is a shockwave device with an extensive interface that offers ideal support to the therapist. It enables the therapist to offer fast and specific treatment, fully tailored to the patient, thanks to its pre-programmed protocols, an anatomic library, real treatment photos, all accessories within easy reach and multiple output channels. 

Benefits of shockwave therapy for the patient 

Shockwave therapy has many benefits for patients who have often suffered with chronic complaints for several years. It offers a good and realistic alternative to painkilling medication and (major) surgery as it is less invasive, less stressful and more focused on the body’s self-healing qualities. The benefits offered by shockwave therapy include:

• realistic alternative to surgery or medication 
• treats the cause, not the symptoms 
• 80% success rate
• 6 - 8 treatment sessions required on average 
• fast treatment per session (8 - 10 minutes) 
• limited side-effects with only a slight risk of some redness or swelling 
• pain relief and recovery often after just a few days 
• reliable and scientifically proven form of therapy for many complaints 

MoveMens interviewed five patients about their experiences, which were all positive. One of the patients, who had suffered with complaints in both heels for years, said: ‘It was unbelievable what happened. I noticed after just two or three treatments that I could walk better and wear shoes I hadn’t been able to for years. I’d made a habit of buying shoes with soft soles so I could cope better with the pain I had when walking.’

Do you want to use shockwave therapy in your practice?

Shockwave therapy is evolving and still being developed further. It is already the most researched and proven treatment method, and it will become even more effective and provide a solution for more and more patients in the near future. Would you like to introduce shockwave therapy in your practice? Or take your shockwave therapy to the next level? Our professionals will be happy to discuss options with you. Call or email us.   

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