Also commonly referred to as repetitive strain injury, occupational overuse syndrome is estimated to affect approximately 15% of Canadians. Musculoskeletal disorders such as tendonitis, bursitis, back pain, and carpal tunnel can be caused by job-related conditions including:

  • Repetitive movements.
  • Awkward posture.
  • Excessive force on small parts of the body.
  • A fast pace with limited rest.
  • Stress and anxiety.

As a result, up to 12% of the Canadian workforce is off and receiving workers’ compensation at any given time.

Shockwave Therapy for Occupational Overuse Syndrome

Shockwave therapy can treat many musculoskeletal conditions by delivering acoustic pressure waves to an affected area. These pressure waves stimulate the cells responsible for healing damaged bone and tissue. As a result, shockwave therapy helps the body heal naturally without drugs or surgery.

Clinical trials have demonstrated shockwave therapy’s effectiveness in treating many common issues related to occupational overuse syndrome.

  • Tendonitis

A study published in the Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology examined the effectiveness of using shockwave therapy to treat three major tendon diseases: calcific tendonitis of the shoulder, chronic Achilles tendinopathy, and lateral epicondylitis of the elbow.

One year after treatment, almost all symptoms were resolved. Researchers concluded shockwave therapy was “a safe, economic, and effective treatment for several chronic musculoskeletal disorders, allowing satisfactory pain relief and improvement of function ability.”

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

A recent study showed that shockwave therapy can successfully treat carpal tunnel syndrome.

Patients saw significant improvements in the visual analog scale three weeks after treatment. There were also significant improvements in grip strength, sensory nerve conduction velocity, and distal motor latency of the median nerve 12 weeks after treatment.

  • Bursitis

Knee pain is a common issue with occupational overuse syndrome. Pes anserine bursitis (PAB) is one of the leading causes of knee pain.

A clinical trial used shockwave therapy to treat patients with chronic PAB who hadn’t responded to conservative treatments. Patients saw significant improvements in the visual analog scale and McGill Pain Questionnaire scores immediately following intervention as well as three and eight weeks later.

  • Back Pain

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine assessed the effect of shockwave therapy on pain levels, functional efficiency, and posture in patients with lower back pain. Researchers used the Laitinen Pain Scale, the Roland–Morris Questionnaire, the original Schober Test, and a stabilometric platform for the assessment of postural sway, including total sway path.

The study concluded that shockwave therapy “had a significant effect on the reduction of pain and the improvement of functional condition compared to a conventional physiotherapy program.” Further, shockwave therapy combined with core stability exercises “led to significant improvements in postural sway compared with conventional physiotherapy.”

Integrate Shockwave Therapy Into Your Practice

If you want to help more patients to recover from occupational overuse syndrome, you’ve come to the right place. Shockwave Canada is the exclusive distributor of Storz medical devices, the best shockwave technology on the market. With our effective, ergonomically designed machines, you can treat more patients for longer periods of time without worrying about straining your body.

Ready to chat? Call (866) 267-4162 or visit our website today for a consultation.