How Shockwave Therapy Can Help Sports Injuries→

Whether you’re a full-time athlete, an amateur athlete, or an avid sports fan, injuries happen to the best of us — that’s just part of being human. When you put your muscles under constant strain, there’s always a risk of overexertion.

The reality of injury is all-the-more real when you neglect rest days, adequate stretching, and nourishing your body well. According to Johns Hopkin’s Medicine, the most common sports injuries involve muscles, ligaments, and tendons and include sprains, strains, fractures, and dislocations. 

This is where shockwave therapy can make all-the-difference in your recovery from an injury — you don’t need to undergo surgery that could set you back months. Learn more about this non-invasive form of treatment in this blog. 

Shockwave Therapy Explained 

More formally known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), this treatment involves the use of high-energy waves or pulses to heal a particular part of the body that has undergone major strain. 

Shockwave therapy treats a myriad of musculoskeletal conditions, although it was first used in the treatment of gallstones and kidney stones for the past few decades. 

Research shows that high-energy pulses, or shockwaves, have a promising effect on muscle cells and surrounding tissue with their ability to adapt to mechanical signals. In other words, this form of therapy stimulates and speeds up the natural healing process of injured muscle and other tissues. 

Not only this, but shockwave therapy boosts blood circulation in the affected area, which helps to restore mobility. This form of therapy is extracorporeal — meaning it’s performed externally. As such, you don’t need to opt for invasive, expensive, and time-consuming options to heal an injury, such as surgery. 

Common Conditions Treated With Shockwave Therapy 

While sports injuries differ from one person or athlete to the next, there are a few that tend to repeatedly crop up due to overuse and overexertion. Shockwave therapy is a great option for treating these conditions: 

1. Rotator Cuff Syndrome 

This is a common issue also known as frozen shoulder. It’s a result of chronic inflammation or scarring of the muscles in the capsule that surround your shoulder joint. This inflammation is often a result of shoulder injuries such as tendinitis, bursitis, and rotator cuff injury. 

Shockwave therapy helps to decalcify this area of the body, reducing inflammation and pain levels, while improving mobility.  

2. Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendinitis)

This condition is a result of chronic inflammation in the patellar tendon which connects your tibia — your shin bone, to your patella — your kneecap. It’s extremely important to treat this condition as soon as it crops up, as this type of injury could permanently derail any athlete’s career.

3. Heel Spur (Achilles Tendinitis)

This is a painful condition caused by a calcium deposit that forms on the underside of the heel bone. It can extend as much as an inch from the heel bone and causes major discomfort. This condition is most common with athletes and sports enthusiasts who focus on running and jumping. 

A similar condition to this is called plantar fasciitis. It’s yet another debilitating sporting injury that affects the plantar fascia tendon which runs from the heel along the inside edge of the foot. 

4. Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

This condition causes inflammation in the tendons that connect your elbow and your forearm. It’s often the result of exertion or overuse of this area — most common in tennis athletes and even amateur players.

But it can also affect those that use the repetitive motion of the arms and wrists for any other sport, i.e. basketball, cricket, baseball, etc. 

 

5. Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

You may know this common condition as shin splints. It’s the result of overexertion or strain to the shin area, brought on by repetitive activity or poor amounts of rest and recovery. Due to a lack of adequate recovery time, the body cannot heal itself like it needs to. 

This condition is common amongst athletes and sports fans who do various weight-bearing exercises, such as running — uphill and downhill, or kicking, skipping, and jumping. 

6. Hip Pain (Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome)

Hip pain and tightness can be unrelenting amongst athletes and sports fans of all disciplines. This is because the pelvis and hip joints are used for so many different types of movements and forms of exercise. 

Some of the most common causes of hip pain include tendon strain, inflammation, the onset of arthritis (which is mostly age-related), and hip fracture. When it comes to athletes, repetitive strain is largely to blame. 

Sports that tend to cause hip pain or injury involve turning and twisting at high speed, such as gymnastics, ice-skating, hockey, ice-hockey, and many more. 

So, to sum it up, shockwave therapy is a great form of treatment for a range of conditions and muscle/tendon injuries. Generally, shockwave therapy works well on these key areas of the body: 

• The Achilles tendon 

• The patellar tendon

• The rectus femoris 

• The plantar fascia 

• The posterior tibial

• The medial epicondyle

• The proximal hamstring origin

• The rotator cuff 

• The distal quadriceps

With all of this in mind, when should you consider shockwave therapy after any of the above-mentioned sports injuries? If common, first-line treatment such as rest, ice, heat, or therapeutic exercise just does not make a difference, shockwave therapy is your next alternative.

Depending on the severity of your injury, invasive treatments do not have to be your only option. This includes the likes of surgical debridement, micro-surgery, needle tenotomy, and regenerative medicine. All of which are expensive options, not always guaranteed to work, and can significantly extend your ”down time”. 

Shockwave therapy is an economical choice, as well as one that is far less risky and offers very minimal/non-existent side-effects.

What to Expect From Shockwave Therapy 

So, you may be wondering, is it painful? Contrary to what the name suggests, you don’t actually undergo any form of ”shocking” with this treatment. Instead, you will feel pulses of energy through the affected area that might tingle or ”zing” at first. 

This feeling is not painful, although it may feel unusual when you first begin treatment. You will start off with a low-intensity form of shockwave therapy at first, then build your way up to a higher intensity, depending on what you’re comfortable with. 

Before the shockwave applicator touches your skin, gel is applied to the affected area for smooth and efficient shockwave delivery. The applicator is then gently pushed onto the area, which then delivers radial waves to the injured muscles/tendons.

This causes a degree of inflammation in the area. The body then reacts by increasing blood circulation and the metabolism of injured tissue. 

This form of treatment is not suitable for certain types of people, including: 

• Those with circulatory disorders 

• People with prosthesis

• Haemophiliac patients 

• Pregnant women 

• If you have an open wound near the injury site 

• If you have high levels of inflammation in the area already 

• If you have a tumor or infection near the affected area 

• If you suffer from a nerve disorder 

• If you are taking anticoagulants 

Once you have undergone therapy, there are a few important tips to follow and a few after-effects that may show up. But none of these effects are debilitating or will affect your day-to-day life. 

Bear in mind that shockwave therapy should be accompanied by some other form of rehabilitation program in order to restore 100 percent function to the injured area. This is something you’ll need to discuss with your physiotherapist or an osteopath. 

Here are a few tips to follow post-shockwave therapy: 

• Try to take at least two days off from exercise after each shockwave treatment — this will help to boost your recovery 

• You can still go about your normal day-to-day activities, but try to avoid running, jumping, twisting, or hopping 

• Don’t be tempted to use ice packs on the affected area 

• Avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication 

While most treatments come with their fair share of side-effects, those associated with shockwave therapy are pretty minimal. However, you can expect mild bruising in the treated area, skin redness, and possible skin irritation.

Shockwave for Achilles Tendinitis→

What Is Achilles Tendonitis?

Tendonitis refers to an overuse injury at the tendon portion of your muscle group. Tendonitis can happen in various areas throughout the body, such as the elbow, shoulder, and knee. Another common area that tendonitis occurs is in the Achilles. 

Your Achilles tendon is the thick band of tissue at the most distal end of your calf muscle. It helps connect the muscles in the calf to your heel. In many Achilles tendonitis cases, injuries happen without any contact. 

Runners and basketball players are prominent groups of athletes that tend to experience Achilles tendonitis. Untreated, this injury can lead to a complete rupture, which requires surgical intervention. 

However, you don’t have to be a professional athlete for this common injury. Since it is an overuse injury, many adults who play pick-up basketball games on the weekends or a quick game of tennis can experience it. There are two main types of Achilles tendonitis, including:

• Insertional

• Noninsertional

As the name sounds, insertional tendonitis happens right at the junction where your Achilles tendon attaches to your heel bone. Noninsertional tendonitis occurs just above the insertion point and can cause swelling and pain. In some instances, it can also cause bone spurs. 

Symptoms of Achilles Tendonitis

The most apparent symptom of Achilles tendonitis is pain. Other common symptoms are:

• Swelling

• Tenderness

• Muscle stiffness

• Burning pain

If you notice pain or tightness when stretching your calf muscle, you might have a case of tendonitis. Typically, this pain or discomfort doesn’t go away suddenly. It can linger for weeks or months and worsen during or after activity. 

You may also notice increased stiffness in the morning after sleeping. People who are most at risk of this injury are:

• Men over 30

• Flat feet

• Bone spurs in your feet

• Suddenly increasing your activity

• Improper footwear

• Other comorbidities

R.I.C.E. is one of the more common treatments and stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. It is a quick, simple, and effective tool for helping with pain and inflammation.

It also allows the injury time to heal and recover. However, when resting an injury doesn’t help, it is time to start looking into the next steps. 

These steps are more intensive and include physical therapy, surgery, and medication. Non-surgical treatments can take anywhere from six to 12 weeks. If that sounds like a long time, surgical interventions can take up to six months. 

Even after six months, you may not notice full strength and mobility for up to a year. Are there other options out there? The short answer is yes!

Shockwave Therapy Guide

What is shockwave therapy? It is a non-invasive treatment that has become a more popular option for physical therapists and orthopedic clinics. 

It first started decades ago but has recently been a more commonplace option for patients. These patients want to try other treatments for injury management other than surgical or invasive procedures. It uses acoustic waves emitted from the end of a wand that essentially shocks the muscles, tendons, or other tissues. 

The practitioner uses the shockwave therapy tool over the area of injury that helps kickstart the healing process. There are two primary forms of shockwave therapy, including: 

• Low energy

• High energy

Low energy shockwave therapy mainly focuses on managing inflammation and helping with your pain. It is cost-friendly and provides almost immediate relief from the painful side effects of tendonitis.

For the most effective results, you will want high-energy shockwave therapy. This type of shockwave therapy has shown some of the best benefits of the healing process and getting you back to your favorite activities. What other benefits can you see from shockwave therapy? 

• Increased blood flow

• Reducing chronic inflammation

• Reducing calcium build-up

• Release muscle tension

Studies recommend shockwave therapy treatments for injuries that haven’t responded to other standard care. It is highly recommended for any tendonitis or calcific tendinopathy. Surprisingly, even certain fractures can benefit from shockwave therapy. 

On various musculoskeletal injuries, experts found that shockwave therapy showed positive changes in the tissue. 

Shockwave Therapy Tips

How can you get started with using shockwave therapy? First, make sure you recognize some of the contraindications. For starters, patients who are pregnant or have certain heart diagnoses may not qualify. 

For safety, they should consult with a physician or a qualified specialist that can help determine if they are a candidate for shockwave therapy. Second, there are a few different shockwave therapy tools you can use in a clinic – make sure you consult with an expert on the products your clinic could benefit from the most. 

When administering shockwave therapy, it doesn’t have to be very long. Before starting, gel should be applied to the patient and the area being treated.

The gel acts as a medium that helps the shockwaves permeate the skin. Most chronic pain treatments are around five to ten minutes, while the maximum time can be 18 minutes. 

Immediate Shockwave Therapy Effects

There may be some mild discomfort during treatment, but it should be tolerable for the entirety of the session. After treatment, there are no restrictions, and the patient can resume their daily habits. However, experts suggest that patients undergoing shockwave therapy should avoid high-impact activities or sports.

This restriction would also include running. One of the biggest shockwave therapy tips is to avoid anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen. Ibuprofen is a handy medication to have on hand for most sports or orthopedic injuries, but it can negate the positive effects of shockwave therapy.

After treatment, the inflammation process helps bring nutrients and blood to the area that promotes healing. Ibuprofen can slow this process down. In most cases, the inflammation will start dissipating after one or two days. 

Patients and clinics must remember that shockwave therapy typically requires more than one treatment, and results may not be seen immediately. In many instances, it can still take months for proper healing, but it can help patients avoid surgical interventions and other costly procedures. 

Shockwave Therapy for Achilles Tendonitis

Shockwave therapy to treat Achilles tendonitis is an excellent treatment option for patients who have failed other forms of treatment. It can also be an excellent tool for treating an acute injury since it can help act as a pain reliever and kickstart the healing process. 

But what do the studies show? 

One study looked at extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) against other non-surgical treatments for Achilles tendonitis. After treatments, they assess pain scores and functional outcomes. 

In both categories, they found that patients reported improvements. It is recommended before surgical consultation. ESWT also showed improvements at the three, six, and twelve-month mark compared to other standard therapies such as eccentric exercises. 

Another study examined ESWT and mesotherapy, a technique that injects small amounts of vitamins, extracts, or other pharmaceutical substances. Two groups of athletes were assigned to each treatment for a total of four weeks. 

They found that both groups showed improvements in pain and inflammation. However, the most significant difference popped up at the twelve-week mark. Even though both treatment groups stopped after a month, they found that the ESWT group had improved Achilles tendon thickness and Doppler signal than the mesotherapy group. 

The researchers also found that there were reduced calcifications after twelve weeks. In the end, the study highlighted more of the long-term effects that ESWT can have for various sports injuries, especially tendonitis injuries that can notoriously take a long time to heal properly. 

Achilles Tendonitis Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis can help reduce inflammation, promote blood flow, and reduce calcifications. Ultimately, combining the effects of shockwave therapy can improve the body’s natural healing process. 

Shockwave for Hamstring Strain→

Hamstring injuries are one of the most common soft tissue issues seen in active patients. Whether it is a weekend runner or a competitive athlete, these injuries can be frustrating, slow to heal, and prone to recurrence.

Why Hamstring Strains Are So Challenging

Hamstring strains are not just simple muscle pulls. They often involve microtears, scar tissue formation, and neuromuscular inhibition. This creates a cycle where healing is incomplete and reinjury becomes more likely.

Understanding Shockwave Therapy in Clinical Practice

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic waves to stimulate biological responses in soft tissue. These waves penetrate the skin and create controlled microtrauma, which triggers the body’s natural healing processes. This is particularly relevant when addressing prolonged hamstring strain healing time in chronic or recurring cases.

Key physiological effects include:

• Increased blood circulation

• Stimulation of collagen production

• Breakdown of scar tissue and adhesions

• Reduction in pain signaling

What Makes Shockwave Therapy Effective?

You might be wondering, why does this work better than traditional approaches alone?

It comes down to activation. Many chronic or lingering injuries are stuck in a stalled healing phase. This stalled healing phase is also why hamstring strain healing time can vary so significantly between patients, even with similar initial injuries. Shockwave therapy helps restart that process.

Patients often report feeling a difference within the first few visits. That early progress can improve compliance, which is half the battle in rehab.