Specialists usually recommend one-week intervals, however, this may change depending on your individual circumstances. Regular rest periods between each shockwave therapy session are essential. For example, patients treated with shockwave therapy for chronic pain caused by tendonitis may receive treatments every few days at first, and sessions decrease over time. Shockwave therapy works best when sessions are administered about 1 week apart.
Most injuries require a minimum of 3 sessions, so the ideal is to plan to be available for 3 consecutive weeks without skipping treatment for the best results. It's important not to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for 2 weeks before your first session and throughout your treatment, as this can interfere with the effectiveness of the treatment. Clarify this with your doctor or therapist, as other pain relievers are available if you need them. Plan what to wear: the treatment area should be exposed, so loose clothing or the option of wearing shorts or a vest may be necessary, for example.
For most patients, three to six sessions of shock wave therapy, with a week of rest in between, are needed before significant relief is felt. The more serious the problem, the more treatment is likely to be needed. Most patients notice results right away and only need two or three treatments over a period of six to 12 weeks for complete healing and lasting resolution of symptoms. The beauty of ESWT is that, if it's going to work, it's likely to start working immediately after the first treatment.
So, if you don't start seeing results right away, we can investigate other possible causes of your symptoms. You will usually be given 3 different treatments. They are usually a week or two apart. To find out if you are a good candidate for treatment, consult a medical professional who is qualified, trained and experienced in administering shockwave therapy.
There is an extremely small risk of tendon rupture or soft tissue damage after shockwave treatment, but the potential benefit far outweighs any risks. The list of ways that patients describe extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is almost as long as the list of conditions that this advanced treatment can help cure. All patients should be advised that hyperstimulation analgesia immediately after treatment can reduce pain and activity should not be delayed during this period. You'll also find that shockwave therapy breaks down any scar tissue in the area, further alleviating any pain you may feel.
and improves their mobility. If you've been suffering from chronic pain or a persistent injury, you may have heard of shockwave therapy as a possible solution. As you use the shockwave therapy machine and move the probe around the heel, pressure and vibration are felt around the affected area. The differences observed in the treatment approach have contributed to the existence of conflicting evidence in the current literature on shock wave treatment.
Shockwave therapy is an alternative and innovative therapy capable of targeting problem areas in a very specific way. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy creates microtrauma in the target area, forcing the body to create new tissue cells. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is used in a variety of clinical applications, including the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. While some professionals use shock wave therapy as a stand-alone treatment, at the Sydney Heel Pain Clinic, the treatment plan includes measures to support the Achilles tendon or the plantar fascia and also eliminate the causes of pain.
Two cases of Achilles tendon rupture were reported within two weeks of initial shockwave treatment with F‐SWT in women over 60 years of age.