PHYSIOTHERAPY IN CHELSEA

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Treatment for chronic tendon and ligament problems.

Introduction

Shock Wave Therapy is a new technique used for treatment of conditions such as tennis elbow, heel spur (platar fasciitis), calcification of shoulder tendons (shoulder pain) and peyronies. Conditions which are otherwise difficult to treat with conventional physiotherapy and steroid injections.

A course of treatment usually requires three sessions, each taking about 45 - 60 minutes, which in addition to the treatment, includes advice on retraining of weak muscles related to the injury.

Pain relief can be experienced in the period immediately following the treatment and permanent results can be expected 4 - 6 weeks following the last session.

It has a success rate of about 80% according to most studies investigating its effect.

The Technology

The technology is based on lithotripter machines, which for about 20 years have been used to treat kidney stones, and are now the golden standard for the removal of kidney stones.

High energy sound waves are created and focused on the injury using a special pad. Shock waves are repeatedly applied to the injury area, and will break down scar tissue and calcifications in the area, which in chronic cases the body is unable to repair itself.

As the shock wave breaks down the tissue, the body starts building up new tissue in the order it was originally intended. It has also been shown that new blood vessels grow into the new tissue, helping the healing.

In other words: the shock wave stimulates healing of tissue, which has not been successful in the spontaneous healing process which is supposed to take place in the body.

Benefits

Shock wave has the obvious benefit that it is non-invasive. There is no usage of knife as with traditional orthopaedic treatment of these conditions and as the latests technology is used at Physiotherapy in Chelsea, no anaesthesia is necessary.

Conditions Treated

Indications for Shock Wave Therapy include:

• Calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder
• Tennis and golfer's elbow
• Heel spur (Plantar fasciitis)
• Patellar tip syndrome / Jumper's knee (Patello tendonitis)
• Achilles tendon pain (Achillodynia)
• Shin splints
• Peyronies

A wide range of athletes suffer from tennis elbow and / or shoulder tendon injuries; these include golf players, squash players, badminton players, cricket players, javelin throwers and many others.

Interestingly sport disciplines such as fishing can also cause these symptoms, as well as everyday activities performed at an intensive level, such as gardening and house keeping, or even intensive mouse or keybord use.