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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

AllSports Podiatry is proud to introduce the latest technology in evidence-based practice on chronic pain management internationally. Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, or ESWT, has a proven 80% clinical efficiency in the treatment of painful and chronic soft tissue conditions such as plantar fasciitis.

Based on high energy radial soundwaves generated through the specifically designed probe, the unit delivers high energy shockwaves into the underlying tissues. This has shown through clinical research, free to examine on web databases, to increase vascular flow and improve healing. The resultant acute trauma caused also regulates neurotransmitter overactivity that is often believed to be a key component to chronic ligament and tendon pathologies.

Developed from technology used in the treatment of kidney stones, ESWT has been widely used in Europe and North America for the past 10 years. The application to soft tissue pathologies has been indicated in the assistance of pain management and to accelerate healing.

The most common conditions in the lower limb treated with great success are:

  • Plantar Fasciitis/Heel Pain Syndrome
  • Achilles Tendinopathies
  • Shin Splints
  • Patella-Femoral Syndrome (Runner’s Knee)
  • Iliotibial Band Friction Syndrome

Incorporated into our structured heel pain program ESWT provides a safe and effective pain management technique. Our goal at AllSports Podiatry is to provide a structured and reliable pathway of treatment that services both short-term pain management goals and long term relief from the condition.

Patients presenting for ESWT therapy often require between 1 to 6 individual sessions approximately one week apart. They can be referred under EPC based referrals for this therapy and may be rebateable through the patient’s private health fund. Many patients feel pain relief immediately following the first treatment.

All Podiatrists at AllSports Podiatry have extensive training and accreditation for the use of ESWT; are highly skilled in the assessment and application for a range of pathologies. At AllSports Podiatry we welcome any referrals for chronic pain management in the lower limb, and if any further information is required, please do not hesitate to contact us.

References:
Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Treatment for Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome. Jan D. Rompe, MD, Angelo Cacchio, MD, John P. Furia, MD, and Nicola Maffulli, MD, MS, PhD, FRCS(Orth), FFSEM(UK) From OrthoTrauma Evaluation Center, Mainz, Germany, the Department of Medicine and Physical Rehabilitation, San Salvatore Hospital of L’Aquila, Italy, SUN Orthopaedics, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, and the Centre for Sports and Exercise Medicine, Barts, and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, England.
Treatment of Painful Heel L. Gerdesmeyer, L. Weil Sr., M. Maier, H. Lohrer, C. Frey, J. Stienstra, M. Russlies, K. Neitzel, M. Schmitt-Sody, B. Scurran.
Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis: results of a confirmatory randomised placebo-controlled multicenter study. Am J Sports Med 2008; 36:2100-2109 Gerdesmeyer L, Frey C, Vester J, Maier M, Weil L Jr, Weil L Sr, Russlies M, Sienstra J, Scurran B, Fedder K, Diehl P, Lohrer H, Henne M, Gollwitzer H.