Ultrasound & Shockwave Therapy

Bounce Health Group is a leader in the application of Ultrasound & Radial Shockwave Therapy for a number of musculoskeletal disorders including

• Tendinitis, Tendinopathy and Tendon Tears
• Ligament Injuries
• Delayed Bone Healing
• Chronic Bone Disorders including Osteitis Pubis and Stress Fractures

Shockwave therapy involves the delivery of high intensity ultrasound waves through a special handpiece. The therapy was initially used in assisting the removal of kidney stones via external application on the skin. This therapy demonstrated changes in the soft tissues in the skin, muscles and tendons which lead to the use of this therapy for tendons and other soft tissues.

Shockwave therapy has a number of roles in treating musculoskeletal disorders which allows for the immediate improvement of symptoms and in combination with other treatment approaches, can completely resolve all symptoms.

Shock wave Therapy can treat

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Patella Tendinopathy and Tears
• Hamstring Tendinopathy and Tears
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Calcific Bursitis
• Rotator Cuff disorders
• Trochanteric Bursitis and Gluteal Tendinopathy

Treatment only lasts 10-15 minutes and patients only feel mild discomfort during the treatment.

Currently our Sports Physicians use shockwave therapy, our podiatrists and our senior physiotherapists who have done extra training in shockwave therapy.

There is only a small additional out of pocket fee for Shockwave Therapy depending on the number of regions treated. 

How does it work?

How shockwave works is only partly understood and currently there are a number of studies internationally to assist in further understanding the science behind the outstanding results we are seeing with shockwave therapy.

The current understanding is that the shockwave application causes a release of substance P from the terminal vesicles of nerves which cause an immediate decrease in pain and this substance P also causes blood vessels to dilate (increase blood flow) which facilitates further healing of the tissue. The nerves that cause pain are almost paralysed so that patients will do a task that usually causes pain and find that this is almost pain free.

Usually patients require 2-3 treatments. Patients usually have an immediate improvement from shockwave. Then from the second treatment the pain reduces further and by the third session there is a significant decrease in pain which is longstanding.

We do expect patients to carry out specific strengthening exercises in consultation with physiotherapists or other practitioner who specialises in tendon rehabilitation for long term results.

Shockwave Therapy is only available at Bounce Health Blackburn.