Shockwave Therapy.
Peninsula Foot Clinic is pleased to offer our patients Extracorporeal Shockwave treatment to assist in treating soft tissue conditions such as heel pain, plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy or eswt, also referred to as radial shockwave therapy, has been developed to treat soft tissue injuries and is widely considered a successful treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis.
It is a treatment that produces high energy sound waves transmitted from a probe held against the skin at the site of pain or injury.
How does Shockwave Therapy work?
Shockwave therapy induces increased blood flow, and metabolic activity as the treatment is delivered. Shock wave therapy aims to stimulate a healing response in the injured degenerative tissue.
In addition, Shockwave can reduce pain by depleting substance P, a neurotransmitter responsible for pain pathways in the central nervous system.
Peninsula Foot Clinic has been offering Shockwave treatment at our Rosebud, Somerville and Mornington clinics since 2012
What does Shockwave therapy involve?
After examination of the affected area, the Podiatrist will hold the applicator probe against the skin. The treatment will take approximately 10-20 mins with some mild discomfort reported during the shockwaves’ delivery, which will ease after a few minutes.
It is a safe treatment delivered in the clinic with patients walking out and returning to regular daily activity. There can be some immediate reduction of the pain; however, most benefit is achieved up to 6 weeks after the first treatment. Depending on your condition, you will need 3-5 treatments, usually one week apart.
The Podiatrists trained to administer Shockwave will need to assess your condition and suitability for this treatment; this may involve X-ray or ultrasound imaging to ensure an accurate diagnosis.
In many cases, the reduction in pain after the treatment enables patients to continue other rehabilitation exercises more effectively.
Common conditions treated using Shockwave therapy at Peninsula Foot Clinic
- Long-standing chronic plantar fasciitis/plantar fasciosis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Shin pain
- Heel pain