SHOCKWAVE THERAPY FOR RUNNING INJURIES
Terminology
Names that refer to therapeutic shockwave are varied. This can create confusion when trying to investigate this technology. Common names include but are not limited to:
ESWT: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy FSW: Focused Shockwave EPAT: Extracorporeal Pulsed Activation Therapy
RSW: Radial Shockwave AWT: Acoustic Wave Therapy
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Soft tissue injuries are common to runners and athletes that depend on their legs to get them where they need to go. About 65% of regular runners get hurt each year. It’s estimated that the average runner will sustain one injury for every 100 hours he or she runs . 1 When an injury occurs, athletes and weekend warriors are usually looking for solutions to get them back on the road as soon as possible. Shockwave therapy transmits harmless acoustic pressure waves into tissue to influence biological activity, resulting in an analgesic effect and expediting the healing process. There are two types of shockwave, Focused Shockwave and Radial Shockwave. These should not be confused with High Energy devices used in Lithotripsy (breaking down kidney stones).
Shockwave therapy can treat
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Myofascial Trigger Points 2 Reduce Muscle Pain & Aches 2
• Plantar Fasciitis and Non Specific Heel Pain 2,3 • Lower Limb Tendinopathies 2 • Hip and Groin Tendinopathies 2
The list of indications continues to grow as the literature base expands.
Research has shown that Shockwave therapy can provide up to 89% positive outcomes after 3 one weekly sessions versus placebo or alternative treatment modalities when treating different types of tendinopathies. 4
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