Sports Medicine Clinic

Sports Medicine Consultants

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ECSWT)

An introduction to Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ECSWT)

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy treatment is a highly effective treatment available for patients with chronic tendon disorders, and is used widely by Sports Physicians & Orthopaedic Surgeons. This is a very successful second line treatment for patients who fail to respond to appropriate physiotherapy.

Shockwave therapy is a non surgical treatment, and works by delivering impulses of energy, targeted to specific damaged tissues within the abnormal tendon. This increases the blood flow within the affected area, stimulating cell regeneration and healing, and decreasing local factors which can cause pain.

How shockwave therapy works

A probe is pressed on to the affected area and the shockwaves are delivered through the skin (a gel like substance is also applied to the area to promote the process). Shockwave Therapy for chronic tendon disorders. For treatment of golfers elbow, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, achilles tendinopathy. Delivered at Cardiff Bay Clinic, Vale Healthcare The impulses are delivered through the skin as a shockwave that spreads inside the injured tissue as an aspherical ‘radial' wave. These radial shockwaves initiate an inflammation-like response in the injured tissue that is being treated, and prompts the body to respond naturally by increasing blood circulation, the number of blood vessels and therefore metabolism in the injured tissue.

The shockwaves are felt as pulses which are a little uncomfortable but not painful. The physician / surgeon applying your treatment will start with a low level of intensity and increase this to a point where you feel comfortable. The treatment was originally used as a treatment for kidney stones, and has been re-developed for the use in treating tendon conditions.

Patients are typically treated in an outpatient environment (not in theatre), and the procedure does not require any type of sedation or anaesthetic.

Conditions recommended for treatment with shockwave therapy:

Plantar Fasciitis (click for more info)
Calcific Tendonitis Shoulder (click for more info)
Tennis and Golfer’s elbow (click for more info)
Achilles Tendinopathy (click for more info)
Trochanteric bursitis (Lateral hip pain) (click for more info)
Patella Tendinopathy (Jumpers Knee)
Medial Tibial Periostitis (shin splints)

Is shockwave therapy treatment covered by private medical insurance

As shock-wave therapy is recommended by NICE most private medical insurers will cover such treatment. However, it is essential that patients consult their insurance companies and obtain written confirmation that they will be covered prior to their appointment. Self-funding packages are also available and treatment courses are from £200.

What happens prior to shockwave therapy

A clinical assessment by a sports physician or an orthopaedic surgeon is usually required to ensure that the diagnosis is correct and that shockwave therapy treatment is the most appropriate for your condition. This assessment will involve the need for diagnostic ultrasound or MRI scan prior to effective treatment.

The treatment is delivered by Vale Healthcare’s specialist Consultant Sports Physician Dr Geoff Davies, Head Physiotherapist to Cardiff City FC Sean Connelly and a number of Orthopaedic Consultants. If the Orthopaedic Consultant that you are seeing does not deliver this treatment then you will usually be referred to Dr Davies or Sean Connelly.

What happens during shockwave therapy

Shock-wave therapy treatments are performed at weekly intervals at the Cardiff Bay Clinic. Each treatment session takes about 20 minutes and it is usual to need between 3 treatment sessions (possibly 5 for resistant problems).

The shockwave therapy treatment available at Vale Healthcare is complimented with our specialist Physiotherapy service. The combination of the Shockwave treatment and Physiotherapy is known to have increased treatment benefits, and we are pleased to be able to offer this enhanced service, where appropriate.

What can I expect after my shockwave treatment?

Many patients experience an improvement in symptoms almost immediately while others take several weeks to respond. There may be a transient reddening or swelling of the area with some patients experiencing a brief increase in pain. It may take several weeks to see an overall benefit. It is suggested that your referring Doctor or surgeon reviews you at 6-8 weeks to assess your overall progress.

The Assert Protocol

The Assert Protocol is a multi-centre project throughout the UK whose objective is to provide a consistent and robust platform to enable accurate scientific evaluation of the clinical effectiveness of shockwave therapy for the management of soft tissue injuries. Dr Davies (Consultant Sports Physician at Vale Healthcare) is an approved Investigator and his Shockwave Clinic at Cardiff Bay Clinic is an approved centre for the Assert protocol. This protocol is designed to be a simple and efficient method to record the clinical outcomes of shockwave therapy and comply with the NICE guidance. Patients at Cardiff Bay Clinic will be given the opportunity to become part of this optional study.