So a few weeks ago we introduced to you shockwave therapy, what it is, and who it can help. This week we thought we would keep the ball rolling and explain its mechanism of action with a bit more depth. As mentioned previously, shockwave therapy operates by sending sound/ pressure waves into a concentrated area of tissue that seems to be causing the issues. These waves travel through the area and as they travel come in contact with a number of different tissues (vessels, muscles, bone). Some these wave will be reflected by the tissue and some absorbed, the ratio being influenced by the type of tissue the wave is travelling through (e.g. bone vs muscle). It is believed that the absorption and transmission of these waves produce the changes that kickstart the seemingly stalled healing process. Some of the documented treatment effects are: mechanical stimulation, a short-term dampening of afferent nerves, increased blood flow, breakdown of calcific deposits, and increased cellular activity.

It is thought that these effects come about primarily because the application of shockwave produces an inflammatory response in an attempt to kick start the healing process almost like providing a boost to a drained car battery. It is trying to put the injury into more of an acute state so that you get the associated benefits listed above such as increased blood flow, production of inflammatory markers, and resorption/ remodeling of tissue. Based on the mechanism of action, you can see why shockwave has been shown to be most effective against those stubborn chronic tendon disorders that just don’t seem to respond to conventional exercise and activity modification. Make sure to check out our earlier blog for some of the evidence, or get a hold of us if you want to hear more.

If you are interested in shockwave and want to book in or learn more, don’t hesitate to contact us at 02920 099 400 or at info@agiletherapy.com.