3 upper body conditions treated with shockwave therapy

Three common conditions treated with shockwave therapy

Learn about how radial shockwave therapy can be used to speed up your recovery process.

What is shockwave therapy? A brief intro.

Shockwave therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves to help heal injured tissues. It is a non-invasive treatment option that is used to treat a variety of conditions. Shockwave therapy is effective at reducing pain and improving function in these conditions, and it often allows patients to avoid surgery. This therapy uses acoustic waves to help the body heal. Shockwave therapy can be used to treat conditions in the lower body, but it can also be used to treat conditions in the upper body. In this blog post, we will discuss three upper body conditions that can be treated with shockwave therapy. If you are suffering from an upper body injury or condition that has not responded to other treatments, shockwave therapy may be a good option for you.

The treatment is typically provided by a trained medical professional, such as a physical therapist or chiropractor. During the procedure, the patient will lie on a table while the practitioner applies the shockwave device to the affected area. The acoustic waves pass through the skin and fat, and are then targeting the specific tissue that needs to be treated. The patient may feel a brief sensation of pressure or pain as the acoustic waves pass through their body. However, there is no need for anesthesia or pain medication, and most patients find the procedure to be relatively comfortable. In most cases, multiple sessions are needed in order to achieve optimal results. However, many patients experience significant improvement after just a few treatments.

To learn more about how Rehab Hero uses shockwave in the clinic click here.

Shockwave for Tennis Elbow

Lateral epicondylalgia (or previously known as lateral epicondylitis), more commonly known as tennis elbow, is a condition that results from overuse of the forearm muscles. The condition is marked by pain and tenderness on the outside of the elbow, and can make it difficult to perform everyday activities such as shaking hands or turning a doorknob. Tennis elbow is most often seen in athletes who play racquet sports such as tennis or squash, but it can also occur in people who do not play sports. Treatment for tennis elbow typically includes physiotherapy and manual therapy. In some cases, physical therapy may be recommended in combination with modalities such as acupuncture or shockwave therapy. Surgery is rarely necessary.

One study found that shockwave therapy was effective at reducing the amount of pain patients felt. In addition, it was observed that both grip strength and wrist extensor and flexor strength improved significantly. This is important as some researchers argue that grip strength assessment may be a reliable indication of how efficacious a treatment is for tennis elbow.

Another study found that shockwave therapy was effective for both acute and chronic tennis elbow injuries. Improvements were seen in as little as 3 sessions, with decreases in pain and increases in grip strength, wrist flexor strength, and wrist extensor strength. These changes were observed at 6 and 12 week follow ups after therapy was completed.

Shockwave for carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition that occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed as it passes through the carpal tunnel. The median nerve is responsible for providing sensation to the thumb and first three fingers, as well as controlling the muscles that allow the thumb to move. When the median nerve becomes compressed, it can lead to pain, numbness, and tingling in the affected hand. In severe cases, carpal tunnel syndrome can cause weakness and loss of dexterity in the hand. There are a number of treatments that can help to relieve the symptoms. These include chiropractic, physical therapy, and shockwave therapy. With proper treatment, most people with carpal tunnel syndrome are able to regain full use of their hand.

This study found that when radial shockwave was combined with conventional exercise rehabilitation that it was an effective treatment for mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome. The results from this combined approach produced greater and longer lasting result compared to exercise rehabilitation alone. This study also found that shockwave therapy could be used on the carpal tunnel directly or along the median nerve pathways on the palmar surface of the hand.

Shockwave for calcific tendinitis in the shoulder

Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder is a condition in which deposits of calcium build up in the tendons, causing pain and inflammation. The exact cause of calcific tendinitis is unknown, but it is believed to be related to repetitive use of the arm or shoulder. The condition is more common in middle-aged adults, and women are more likely to develop it than men. The buildup of calcium can occur over a period of months or years, and it often leads to pain and stiffness in the shoulder. Symptoms of calcific tendinitis include pain, stiffness, and loss of range of motion in the affected shoulder. Treatment typically involves a combination of exercise rehabilitation, physical therapy, and shockwave therapy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the calcium deposits. With proper treatment, most people with calcific tendinitis eventually recover from the condition.

A study by Cacchio et al found that the use of radial shockwave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder was safe and effective. They found that there was a significant reduction in pain and improvements of shoulder function after 4 weeks of treatment. In addition they found there were no adverse effects with the use of shockwave for this condition.

These results is further supported by a study conducted by Ammendolia et al which compared the used of shockwave therapy for calcific tendinopathy in the shoulder to traditional physiotherapy. They found that compared to their control group, that shockwave therapy resulted in an improvement in pain and functional performance scores (UCLA). They further go on to described that the improvement in quality of life was observed at 2 years follow-up. These findings were observed when comparing shockwave therapy to sham, supervised, or physical treatment.

Its not too late to start…

There are a lot of people that suffer from chronic pain caused by conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. If you're one of them, you know how debilitating this can be. It can stop you from enjoying your life and make it hard to stay active. But there's hope. Shockwave therapy is a new treatment that shows promise for relieving this type of pain, especially when combined with a rehabilitation program from your chiropractor or physiotherapist. If you think shockwave therapy might be right for you, get assessed by a professional. Book an appointment with us today to see if we can help relieve your acute or chronic pain and get you back to living your life to the fullest.

Edited by Dr. Angie Foote

Dr. Angie is a chiropractor in Markham that believes in understanding each patient as a whole person, rather than just focusing on the site of the pain. When she’s not practicing at the clinic, you can find her rock climbing, taking a Peloton class, or spending time with loved ones.

References

Stania M, Król B, Franek A, Błaszczak E, Dolibog P, Polak A, Dolibog P, Durmała J, Król P. A comparative study of the efficacy of radial and focused shock wave therapy for tennis elbow depending on symptom duration. Arch Med Sci. 2020 Apr 6;17(6):1686-1695. doi: 10.5114/aoms.2019.81361. PMID: 34900050; PMCID: PMC8641526.

Król P, Franek A, Durmała J, Błaszczak E, Ficek K, Król B, Detko E, Wnuk B, Białek L, Taradaj J. Focused and Radial Shock Wave Therapy in the Treatment of Tennis Elbow: A Pilot Randomised Controlled Study. J Hum Kinet. 2015 Oct 14;47:127-35. doi: 10.1515/hukin-2015-0068. PMID: 26557197; PMCID: PMC4633248.

Habibzadeh, A., Mousavi-Khatir, R., Saadat, P. et al. The effect of radial shockwave on the median nerve pathway in patients with mild-to-moderate carpal tunnel syndrome: a randomized clinical trial. J Orthop Surg Res 17, 46 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-022-02941-9

Cacchio A, Paoloni M, Barile A, Don R, de Paulis F, Calvisi V, Ranavolo A, Frascarelli M, Santilli V, Spacca G. Effectiveness of radial shock-wave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: single-blind, randomized clinical study. Phys Ther. 2006 May;86(5):672-82. PMID: 16649891.

Ammendolia, Antonio & Marotta, Nicola & Demeco, Andrea & Marinaro, Cinzia & Moggio, Lucrezia & Barletta, M. & Costantino, Cosimo. (2020). Effectiveness of Radial Shockwave Therapy in Calcific and Non-Calcific Tendinopathy of the Shoulder: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Muscles. 10. 40. 10.32098/mltj.01.2020.05.

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