Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment method used by Physioelite to solve many types of injury including tendinopathies. The shockwaves are acoustic waves that carry high energy to painful areas and musculoskeletal tissues with conditions that might have been present from a no of weeks to a number of years. The energy promotes healing, regenerating and reparative processes.
Shockwave therapy can be classified into two main types: Radial and Focused.
Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT):
Radial shockwave is also known as ballistic or defocused shockwave. This type of shockwave treatment disperses the shockwaves radially, or spherically outwards. The energy is highest at the skin level and decreases as it penetrates deeper into the body.
In RSWT, the shockwaves are generated using a compressor that accelerates a projectile inside a metal tube. The projectile strikes a metal applicator placed on the patient’s skin, and the resulting pressure waves move radially through the tissue.
Radial shockwave is often used for treating superficial areas and is suitable for conditions like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and other superficial musculoskeletal disorders. The main goal of RSWT is to decrease pain and improve mobility by promoting neovascularization and stimulating the body’s natural healing process.
It also has an application in chronic low back pain for resolving muscular tightness and limitation, as well as improving muscle function particularly after strains.
Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSWT):
Focused shockwave therapy, as the name suggests, focuses the energy into a small, specific point. The waves converge in a focused area within the body, allowing a more targeted treatment. The energy is lower at the skin level but significantly higher at the focused point, deeper within the body.
Focused shockwaves are generated either by electromagnetic, electrohydraulic, or piezoelectric principles. They produce high-pressure amplitudes and are more precise in targeting deeper structures.
FSWT is commonly used for the treatment of deeper pathologies like osteoarthritis, fracture sites with mal-union, shin splints, chronic enthesopathies, trigger finger, and De Quervains. It can be highly effective in carpal tunnel syndrome, preventing the need for surgery.
FSWT also has application in Men’s Health in erectile dysfunction.
In summary, the main difference between these two types of shockwave therapy lies in their energy distribution and depth of penetration. Radial shockwave is used for superficial disorders, with the energy highest at the skin level and disperses outward, while focused shockwave therapy targets deeper issues with a concentrated point of high energy. The choice between these therapies depends on the condition to be treated, its location, and clinical examination.
Please find an available download that explains the range of conditions that can be treated.
As always if you are uncertain of your diagnosis, you can book an appointment here or by calling 0117 9570206.
