Complete Care Physiotherapy Centre provides Shockwave Therapy or ECST (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy) in Etobicoke, Toronto and Mississauga region. Shockwave Therapy provides patients a non-surgical alternative for when conventional treatment has not fully resolved their conditions. The literature has shown this technique to be very successful in the treatment of chronic soft tissue injuries, tendinopathies and repetitive strain disorders.
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave treatment involves the application of short, frequent, and high intensity bursts of mechanical energy (in the form of a shockwave) into soft-tissue that is injured, scarred, or contains adhesions, is painful, or inflamed. This energy shock is a rapid high frequency vibration in the form of a Radial Pressure Wave (RPW). Shockwave Therapy can increase local blood flow, improve healing response, break apart scar tissue and adhesions, reduce muscle spasm, and directly decrease pain when applied appropriately.
What conditions can shockwave treat?
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Heel spurs/Heel pain
- Calcific Tendonitis
- Patellar Tendonitis (Jumper’s Knee)
- Achilles Tendonitis
- Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
- Myofascial Trigger Points in muscle
- Iliotibial Band Syndrome (IT Band Syndrome)
- Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
- Bursitis
- Heterotopic Ossification (Myositis Ossificans)
What should I expect when I am receiving Shockwave Therapy?
The actual application of shockwave lasts 3-5 minutes. The majority of our patients appreciate the faster rate of improvement when combining traditional physiotherapy with shockwave treatment. After the treatment, the rest of your visit will be spent with your physiotherapist, who may also use manual therapy, exercise prescription, or other modalities to facilitate rapid recovery. Most conditions require 3-5 treatments with 3 to 5 days after each treatment.
Is Shockwave Therapy Painful?
Shockwave therapy can be mildly painful for some however most patients are able to tolerate the discomfort well. Your therapist can adjust the intensity of the energy so that it is comfortable for you and can ramp up intensity if you are able to tolerate more. The most intense pain is during the application of shockwave, which only lasts 3-5 minutes. The best part is that the majority of patients will notice a great deal of relief right after the treatment. In rare cases you may feel some soreness for approximately 24 hours after your session and you may have an inflammatory reaction which can include redness and local tissue swelling.
Is Shockwave Therapy covered by Insurance?
Shockwave therapy is covered by most of the extended health benefits plans because our expert physiotherapists and chiropractors provide it. Contact us for more information about this service or to book your shockwave therapy session today!