Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a treatment which is offered for resistant plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy at the Windsor Foot & Ankle Clinic.
Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a treatment which is offered for resistant plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy at the Windsor Foot & Ankle Clinic.
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave Therapy or Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non invasive form of treatment for the above two conditions.
There are NICE guidelines on the procedure, the links to which are ESWT for plantar fasciitis and ESWT for Achilles and can be found here.
The procedure
Most patients require three sessions of treatment. Radial shockwaves are delivered through a small handheld applicator, held at the site of the pain.
Shockwave therapy is used as an adjunct to physiotherapy, stretching and soft shoes. Studies have shown that this treatment enhances angiogenesis, stimulates growth factor induction and alters neuro activity.
The success rate of shockwave therapy varies between 60% to 80%.
What are the risks of ESWT?
There is some pain and discomfort during the treatment, but patients should be able to cope with this. After each treatment session the pain can initially increase, along with a slight numbness, but this usually resolves itself within 48 to 72 hours after your session. Patients who are pregnant, on blood thinning drugs, suffer with a blood clotting disorder, have an infection in the foot, have bone cancer or have recently had a steroid injection must not receive shockwave therapy. Your consultant will discuss the risks and benefits of the shockwave procedure in more detail.
How can I arrange ESWT?
Shockwave therapy is available at the Windsor Foot & Ankle Clinic for patients with private health insurance, dependent on your policy limitations and also available for self paying patients. For more information regarding this, please contact our Business Manager, Lynne Bovington, on 01753 660840 for further information.
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave Therapy or Extra Corporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non invasive form of treatment for the above two conditions.
There are NICE guidelines on the procedure, the links to which are ESWT for plantar fasciitis and ESWT for Achilles and can be found here.
The procedure
Most patients require three sessions of treatment. Radial shockwaves are delivered through a small handheld applicator, held at the site of the pain.
Shockwave therapy is used as an adjunct to physiotherapy, stretching and soft shoes. Studies have shown that this treatment enhances angiogenesis, stimulates growth factor induction and alters neuro activity.
The success rate of shockwave therapy varies between 60% to 80%.
What are the risks of ESWT?
There is some pain and discomfort during the treatment, but patients should be able to cope with this. After each treatment session the pain can initially increase, along with a slight numbness, but this usually resolves itself within 48 to 72 hours after your session. Patients who are pregnant, on blood thinning drugs, suffer with a blood clotting disorder, have an infection in the foot, have bone cancer or have recently had a steroid injection must not receive shockwave therapy. Your consultant will discuss the risks and benefits of the shockwave procedure in more detail.
How can I arrange ESWT?
Shockwave therapy is available at the Windsor Foot & Ankle Clinic for patients with private health insurance, dependent on your policy limitations and also available for self paying patients. For more information regarding this, please contact our Business Manager, Lynne Bovington, on 01753 660840 for further information.