It can be frustrating for patients struggling with musculoskeletal conditions who aren’t responding to conservative treatments but aren’t ready for surgery. It can be frustrating for their physiotherapists too. That’s why shockwave therapy is the ideal solution.
A shockwave therapy device is the best machine for physiotherapy because it can treat several musculoskeletal conditions without drugs or surgery. Using a handheld device, a physiotherapist can target affected areas with acoustic pressure waves that stimulate cells responsible for healing bone and tissue.
Here are a few examples of what shockwave therapy can treat.
- Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and represents approximately 15% of foot symptoms that require treatment. A confirmatory randomized placebo-controlled multicenter study found that shockwave therapy “significantly improves pain, function, and quality of life” with recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.
- Calcific Tendonitis of the Shoulder
Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder is a painful disorder affecting 3% of the healthy population and 7% of patients with shoulder pain. A single-blind, randomized clinical study found that shockwave therapy successfully reduced pain and improved shoulder function for patients in just four weeks without any adverse effects.
- Tennis Elbow
Between 1% to 3% of Americans are affected by tennis elbow. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials compared shockwave therapy to corticosteroid injections for treating tennis elbow. Researchers noted patients treated with shockwave therapy had significant improvements in pain severity and grip strength compared to patients who received corticosteroid injections.
- Hamstring Tendinopathy
Hamstring injuries are the most common non-contact injury in professional sports, accounting for nearly 40% of all muscle trauma. A randomized controlled clinical study compared using shockwave therapy to a conservative treatment of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy, and an exercise program for treating professional athletes with chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy.
After three months of treatment, 85% of patients who received shockwave therapy had at least a 50% reduction in pain compared to just 10% of patients who received conservative treatment.
Get the Best Machine for Physiotherapy
Call (844) 636-9283 or visit our website today to learn more about how shockwave therapy can expand your practice.