Radial/ Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
Diagnoses treated:
- Trigger Points
- Calcific Tendonitis
- Epicondylitis
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Bone Spurs
- Back Pain
- Facet Impingements
- Headaches
- Neck Pain
- Trochanteric Bursitis
- Achillodynia
What it is:
- Ballistic Shockwaves
- Mechanical Pressure Waves
- Initially Used for Disintegration of Kidney Stones in 1980
- Common in the Rest of the World
What it does:
- Mechanical Stimulation
- Breakdown of Calcific Deposits
- Pain Relief - Transient Analgesic Effect, Release of Substance P.
- Increase Local Blood Flow - Release of NO
- Stimulate Cell Metabolism - Release of Prostaglandin E2, TGF Beta
Why:
- Reduced Treatment Time, Outcomes in 1-8 Treatments
- Studies Show Significant Success (70-85%)
- Covered by Insurance as a Component of Physical Therapy
- Level of Evidence: 2 in Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis. Strong Evidence for Nearly all Tendinopathies.