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What is ESWT or Shockwave Therapy?

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is the application of Shock Waves in medicine.

Shock Waves are movements of extremely high pressure caused by, for example, an explosion, an earthquake or a plane breaking the sound barrier.

It is clinically proven that pressure waves, when applied to injured tissues, stimulate metabolic reactions and promote the initial phases of healing.  Podiatrists use a large machine and a probe to administer shockwaves into injured tissue to promote healing.

Let me explain how shockwave therapy works.

When the clinician applies shockwave therapy or ESWT to injured tissue. Injuries are affected in three ways:

ESWT – Shockwave therpay

• Reduction of pain by reducing nerve impulses.
• Increase of blood circulation in surrounding tissue.
• Beginning of the healing process through stem cells activation.

Everyone has C nerve fibres in their body and when C nerve fibres are activated, the fibres release a substance called substance P.  Substance P is responsible for causing pain and discomfort.  ESWT activates C nerve fibres, initially causing a widespread release of substance P which causes discomfort during application.  After a prolonged period of applying ESWT, C nerve fibres are disarmed and incapable of producing substance P.

A reduction in the production of substance P in tissue, leads to a reduction in pain.

This reduction of nerve fibre stimulation, together with increasing blood circulation and the activation of stem cells in the treated tissue, promotes recovery and can significantly reduce musculoskeletal pain.  ESWT can be used for heel pain on the bottom or back of the heel.  There is an abundance of high level evidence to support the use of shockwave therapy in combination with other management strategies such as orthotics and manual therapy.  Our premium ESWT machine is used in the vast majority of high level evidence and is widely recognised as the most effective device :  EMS