SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
શોકવેવ થેરાપી
શોકવેવ થેરાપી જેને એક્સ્ટ્રાકોર્પોરિયલ શોક વેવ થેરાપી (ESWT) તરીકે પણ ઓળખવામાં આવે છે, તે એક અત્યંત અસરકારક બિન-આક્રમક સારવાર છે જે ઇજાગ્રસ્ત પેશીઓમાં ઉપચારને ઉત્તેજીત કરવા માટે ઓછી ઉર્જાવાળા ધ્વનિ તરંગોનો ઉપયોગ કરે છે. તેનો ઉપયોગ ઘણીવાર ટેન્ડોનોટીસ, બર્સિટિસ અને સ્નાયુઓના તાણ વગેરે જેવી ક્રોનિક મસ્ક્યુલોસ્કેલેટલ સ્થિતિઓ માટે થાય છે. તે ન્યૂનતમ પુનઃપ્રાપ્તિ સમય સાથે એક બિન-આક્રમક પ્રક્રિયા છે.
તે કેવી રીતે કામ કરે છે:
ભૌતિક તબક્કો: શોકવેવ્સ એક દબાણ તરંગ બનાવે છે જે શરીરમાંથી પસાર થાય છે.
ભૌતિક-રાસાયણિક તબક્કો: આ તરંગ કોષોને ઉત્તેજિત કરે છે, જેનાથી હીલિંગ પરિબળો મુક્ત થાય છે.
રાસાયણિક તબક્કો: તરંગ પેશીઓના રાસાયણિક સંતુલનને બદલી શકે છે, જેનાથી ઉપચારને વધુ પ્રોત્સાહન મળે છે.
જૈવિક તબક્કો: સંયુક્ત અસરો પેશીઓના પુનર્જીવન અને પીડા રાહત તરફ દોરી જાય છે.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy:
Enhanced Healing and Regeneration
Pain Relief
Non-Invasive Alternative
Improved Function
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Stimulates Blood Circulation by enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients, which are crucial for repair
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Activates Healing Response in Chronic and non healing injuries
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Tissue Repair by promoting the regeneration of damaged muscle, tendon, and soft tissues
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Pain Reduction by desensitising nerve endings, often providing an immediate reduction in pain
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Reduced Reliance on Medication by providing non-invasive effective pain relief
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Breaks the Chronic Pain Cycle and is highly effective for stubborn, long-term pain that hasn't responded to other conservative treatments
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Reduces the need for corticosteroid injections or traditional surgical interventions
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Minimal Downtime: Treatment sessions are typically quick (5-15 minutes), and most patients can return to their normal daily activities shortly after a session
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No Anaesthesia Required for the therapy session
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Breaks Down Scar Tissue: The acoustic waves can help to break down thick, fibrous scar tissue, which can improve flexibility in the surrounding tissues
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Improved Mobility: By reducing pain and inflammation and stimulating tissue repair, it can lead to improved joint function and a faster return to normal activities and sport
Conditions Treated:
It is particularly well-suited for a variety of persistent musculoskeletal conditions
Tendon Injuries (Tendinopathies)
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Achilles Tendinopathy
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Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper's Knee)
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Lateral and Medial Epicondylitis (Tennis and Golfer's Elbow)
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Gluteal/Hamstring Tendinopathy
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Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain)
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Iliotibial Band Syndrome
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Rotator Cuff Injuries
Joint/Bony Conditions
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Frozen Shoulder
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Bony Heel Spurs
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Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome (shin Splints)
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Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome
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Initial stage osteoarthritis
Calcifications
It can help to break down and disperse calcium deposits in tendons, such as Calcific Tendinopathy of. the shoulder
Physiology:
Physical phase:
The ESWT device generates a high-energy, high-velocity acoustic pressure pulse. This pulse is precisely focused and transmitted through the skin into the target tissue, such as an injured tendon or bone. This physical force creates a rapid change in pressure—from positive compression to negative tension—which causes mechanical stress at the cellular and tissue level.
Physicochemical phase:
The mechanical stress generated by the shockwave creates a phenomenon called mechanotransduction. This process converts the physical stimulus into a cellular biochemical response. It triggers the cell membranes to become more permeable and activates specific cell types (like tenocytes and fibroblasts), initiating a cascade that results in the local release of important growth factors and messenger molecules.
Chemical phase:
The intense pressure changes and cavitation (formation of microbubbles) caused by the shockwaves alter the local chemical environment. This process can help to dissolve calcium deposits often found in chronic tendinopathy (like calcific tendonitis). Crucially, the shockwaves also inhibit the production of Substance P, a neuropeptide associated with pain transmission, which contributes to the immediate analgesic (pain-relieving) effect.
Biological phase:
The cumulative result of the preceding phases is the stimulation of neovascularization (formation of new blood vessels) and enhanced synthesis of collagen. Increased blood flow delivers vital nutrients, while new collagen helps to strengthen the damaged tendon structure. This regeneration, combined with the decreased concentration of pain mediators, ultimately leads to long-term tissue repair and a significant reduction in chronic pain.
