Tendons are the rugged, fibrous connective tissues in our muscles that connect the muscles and the bones so that whenever we move a specific muscle, it pulls on the bone and triggers movement. They’re very susceptible to stress and strain as a result of their limited mobility and the hefty loads they support throughout physical demands and everyday activity.
Tendonitis is a very painful inflammation of the tendons; usually a repetitive strain injury such as tennis elbow. It can be triggered by overuse, strain, or another action that places an excessive amount of pressure on your tendons.
In fact, practically any repetitive movement may possibly trigger tendonitis as a chronic condition — particularly amongst those who devote a significant amount of time doing it. (It likewise does not help that we spend so much time hunching over our cell phones and desk jobs.)
Tendonitis can make it hard for you to move without pain, weakness, and tightness. If you’re a golf enthusiast, tennis player, or another sportsperson who regularly over-exerts their tendons, then you understand first-hand how discouraging and incapacitating tendonitis can really be.
If left without treatment, tendonitis may even worsen and turn into persistent tendonitis, which is additionally referred to as tendinosis. With this disorder, the tendon becomes weaker and doesn’t heal effectively. If left without treatment for too long, it might not ever recover totally or go back to regular function again.
Thankfully, with the proper treatment at the correct time, you’ll be back to your normal activities in no time, without any remaining consequences from your flare-up of tendonitis — just continue reading for all the information!
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, additionally referred to as “extracorporeal shock wave therapy” (ESWT), is a painless, non-invasive treatment that’s been shown to be remarkably beneficial in the treatment of tendonitis. It utilizes tightly-focused sound waves that are produced by a tool to make very small injuries in your tendons to promote recovery.
Shockwave therapy is often employed as an alternative to surgery to relieve a variety of problems, including knee, elbow, and shoulder tendonitis. Shockwave therapy is carried out in a medical setting with a gel pad or cushion to shield the skin. The pad supplies energy in the form of acoustic waves to your tendons. The acoustic waves cause the fluid in your tendons to vibrate and produce micro-injuries that stimulate recovery.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Help With Tendonitis?
Shockwave treatment works by creating micro-injuries in your tendons and other soft tissues. Having made these micro injuries, your body begins a healing system that creates new collagen and returns your tendon back to proper function and wellness.
This is called the “regenerative” process, and it allows your body to repair damaged tissues and rejuvenate them to their typical state of function and health. Shockwave also caused increased blood flow to the area, delivering vital nutrients. This is among the several ways in which shockwave treatment helps relieve tendonitis!
Another reason shockwave therapy may be effective for tendonitis is simply because it doesn’t require any topical or oral prescriptions that might have side effects and are typically associated with other treatments for tendonitis. This may be very beneficial for those who wish to stay clear of needless negative side effects or for those who are allergic to certain drugs.
With shockwave treatment, you can focus on recovering and feel confident that you are receiving the most effective treatment method for your problem.
The Benefits of Shockwave Therapy As a Treatment Plan for Tendonitis
Employing shockwave therapy to treat tendonitis has a variety of benefits over other treatments, including:
- No Side Effects: One of the most apparent benefits of shockwave treatment is that there are no negative effects and no risk of negative reactions. This conservative treatment is absolutely safe and does not come with any potential negative side effects like topical or oral medications do.
- No Needles: Another benefit is that you won’t need to cope with the discomfort and pain of shots. Several treatments for tendonitis involve injecting the afflicted location to trigger the recovery process, but shockwave treatment doesn’t. You can get the very same benefits without having to cope with the pain and hassle of injections.
- No Downtime: Another advantage of shockwave treatment is that you don’t need to fret about having to take some time away from work or being inactive while your tendon is mending. The common treatment is painless and doesn’t call for any lost time.
- No Long-lasting Negative Side Effects: Among the greatest benefits of shockwave therapy for tendonitis is that it doesn’t include any long-term adverse effects. You can feel certain that you will not have to deal with any unexpected consequences or adverse reactions down the road. As a matter of fact, the regenerative process that shockwave treatment activates can actually help to prevent future tendon injuries!
Are there any Adverse Effects of Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy does not have any substantial or lasting adverse effects. Though there might be some slight discomfort or minor inflammation after the therapy, these side effects aren’t extremely prominent and will disappear on their own in a few days. There is also no danger of damaging close-by tissues or nerves.
It ought to be kept in mind that shockwave therapy is not ideal for everybody. People with certain health issues like pregnancy, open wounds or infection, or an allergic reaction to ultrasound ought to stay clear of it. It is definitely best to ask your physician or physio therapist if shockwave therapy is right for you.
How Much Does Shockwave Therapy Cost?
The cost of shockwave treatment for tendonitis varies from clinic to clinic and from client to client since every health condition and scenario is different. It is ideal to find a facility in your local area and visit them face to face to get a price estimate for your specific treatment. Be certain to inquire about any insurance protection that might be available to you.
If you have medical insurance, be certain to look over your protection and see if it includes shockwave therapy for tendonitis. If it does, you can usually make a visit with a physiotherapist or expert near you and get treated immediately. If you do not have medical insurance, you can still check out a center and find out if they offer a payment plan or treatment financing option to make the therapy more budget friendly.
How Many Sessions Will You Have?
The quantity of shockwave treatment appointments you require may differ depending upon the severity of your tendonitis and your reaction to the therapy. You will most likely begin to feel benefits in between two and five treatments.
The best method to know when you should stop getting therapy is to track your progress with a symptom and pain tracking app like Healio. If you have health insurance, make sure to bring it to your session. This’ll help you get the most out of your treatment and recover quicker.
Where Can You Schedule Shockwave Treatment for Tendonitis?
As we mentioned previously, shockwave therapy is typically received in a medical clinic. If you are enduring pain and discomfort from tendonitis, it is important to schedule treatment as quickly as possible to keep the disorder from becoming worse. Especially if you have had other treatments and they weren’t successful, then it’s worthwhile giving shockwave treatment a try.
Contact Fanti + Associates Physiotherapists in Thunder Bay right away and we can schedule easing your tendonitis discomfort and improving your quality of life. Now booking new clients!