What Does Shockwave Therapy Treat?
What does shockwave therapy treat? We use Shockwave therapy to treat plantar fasciitis pain, Achilles Tendinopathy and tennis elbow, along with other chronic tendon and soft tissue conditions.
If you are wondering how shockwave therapy works, we’ll walk you through the conditions it treats, what a session looks like, and then build a physiotherapy program that suits your body and goals.
Plantar fasciitis pain is one of the most researched and commonly treated conditions, showing up as deep, stabbing pain on the sole of your foot or deep within the heel, that’s often worse with the first few steps in the morning. Achilles Tendinopathy, the gradual thickening and pain along the back of the tendon that attaches the calf muscle to the heel is another common one. The same can be said for tennis elbow, if you might find a persistent ache on the outside of the elbow, that flares up with gripping or repetitive arm movement.
Beyond these three, it’s also used for other chronic tendon and soft tissue injuries where standard treatment hasn’t quite fixed the issue.
Who’s it for? Plenty of people come to us are desk workers, weekend walkers and gardeners whose discomfort has quietly become part of their daily life, rather than something debilitating. Most of these injuries are commonly thought of as “overuse” injuries so can occur in athletes and workers who face heavy loads or physical activity.
During a session with us, a handheld device delivers mechanical pulses through the skin to the injured area. These pulses increase circulation and cause a chemical cascade to trigger the body’s natural healing response, which is particularly useful for injuries that have plateaued despite months of rehab.
A physiotherapy-led approach can make a real difference. The treatment itself addresses the symptom, but a physiotherapist helps identify the cause of the injury. Whether it’s tight calves feeding your Achilles pain, poor foot biomechanics behind your plantar fasciitis pain, or a loading issue behind your tennis elbow, we can help build a plan around fixing that too.
A session is quick, usually somewhere around ten to fifteen minutes, with no anaesthetic and no downtime afterwards! The sensation is described as an unusual, pulsing discomfort rather than genuine pain. The intensity can be adjusted, if it’s too much for you. You can usually go straight back to your day afterwards.
Afterwards, some redness, mild swelling or a dull ache in the treated area for a day or two is completely normal. Most research recommends between 6-8 sessions per treatment area with benefits usually felt around the two to three week mark.
Shockwave isn’t for everyone, and should be generally avoided if you are pregnant, or on blood thinners, have a peacemaker, or those who’ve recently had a cortisone injection. During our physiotherapy assessment, we can confirm if it’s actually the right fit for your injury.
The cost is $85 per session or $80 per session when you prepay for a pack of 4 treatments. most private health funds with extras cover allow on the spot claiming through HICAPS. Rebates vary between funds, so it’s worth checking your policy, but for most people the out of pocket cost sits well within a normal physio visit.
Where this treatment sits in your recovery matters as much as the treatment itself. It tends to come in after more conservative approaches such as rest, stretching and load management haven’t fully resolved things.
But the best outcomes come from pairing it with the rest of a physiotherapy plan, including targeted strengthening, and movement correction. In time, if your injury allows, and where suitable, our Reformer Pilates could also be an option for you to build back your strength, promote good posture, and correct the less than optimal loading mechanisms that lead to your initial injury! Amazing at building the stability, Reformer Pilates can help to keep the pain away and build strength over time.
If you have heel, elbow, Achilles pain or another chronic issue that isn’t going away, Our team at Your Body Physio & Pilates combines this treatment with expert physiotherapy care, because a well rounded approach is what we do, and what our clients love!
