What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave Therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive procedure administered by our Physiotherapists, where a series of pressurized air wave pulsations are applied to the skin in the area where the injury is located. Shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, and connective tissue) natural self-healing process and can be very effective in treating subacute, sub chronic, chronic conditions as well as recurrent or unresolved conditions.

Shockwave is thought to help in multiple different ways as listed below:

1. Tissue Regneration Shockwave stimulates the body's production of collagen, which is a very important protein needing for cell repair. This collagen production is driven through the stimulation of fibroblasts. Ultimately, this leads to regeneration of tissues that are damaged helping you return to function

2. Reducing Pain Shockwave targets the body's pain receptors known as nociceptors and this reduces the amount of pain signals that travel to the brain helping with patients dealing with chronic pain. Substance P is a chemical in the body that is pro-inflammatory and can build in the body's tissue which leads to increase pain. Shockwave is known to reduce this chemical to help reduce pain.

Shockwave therapy can help with:
- Calcific shoulder tendinopathy
- Shoulder impingement syndrome
- Rotator cuff syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Trigger points
- Golfers elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Bursitis (shoulder, elbow, hip and knee)

Shockwave therapy is also quite useful for chronic conditions.

If you think shockwave could be of benefit for you, call 604-455-7772 to book in with a physiotherapist in Langley or book online.