Soccer, especially when played at an elite level, involves explosive start-and-stop movements, which can cause injuries. Shockwave therapy is a soccer injury treatment option that can get athletes back on the field quickly without the need for surgery or drugs.

By delivering acoustic pressure waves to an affected area, shockwave technology stimulates metabolism and enhances blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue and bone, accelerating the body’s healing process.

A recent study measured the effectiveness of using shockwave therapy to treat professional soccer players from Germany’s Bundesliga for various muscle injuries. Researchers found that shockwave therapy consistently shortened lay-off times due to injury by over 50 per cent.

Here are a few common soccer injuries that shockwave therapy can treat.

Hamstring Tendinopathy

Due to all the running in soccer, hamstring injuries are among the most common. In a randomized, controlled trial Cacchio et al. compared conservative management (nonsteroid anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and an exercise program) to shockwave therapy for the treatment of proximal hamstring tendinopathy in 40 professional athletes split into two groups.

After three months, 85 per cent of the shockwave group had at least a 50 per cent reduction in pain compared to just 10 per cent of the conservative management group. Further, 80 per cent of the shockwave group returned to their pre-injury level of participation after three months, while none of the conservative treatment group returned to activity in that same timeframe.

Knee Soft Tissue Injuries

Soccer players can injure the soft tissues of their knees, such as the ligaments, muscles, tendons, and menisci, by landing awkwardly in a twisting motion or from the wear and tear of all those sudden changes of direction that happen throughout games. A literature review published in BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders examined the effectiveness of using shockwave therapy to treat knee soft tissue injuries.

Researchers assessed 19 randomized controlled trials and found that shockwave therapy had “overall significant effects” on treatment success rate, pain reduction, and restoring range of motion.

Ankle Sprains

Ankle sprains are common in soccer. Repeated ankle sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability, which causes pain, swelling, and a wobbly feeling in the joint. One paper investigated the effectiveness of shockwave therapy for treating patients with chronic ankle instability.

Eighteen patients were divided equally into an experimental group and a control group. Using multiple test parameters to measure pain, instability, function, range of motion, and dynamic balance, researchers concluded shockwave therapy was effective in treating chronic ankle instability.

Soccer Injury Treatment With Shockwave Therapy

If you’re a sports medicine practitioner looking to use shockwave therapy for soccer injuries, the MASTERPULS® ONE is an ideal solution. Completely portable and lightweight, you can bring this device with you to treat your clients wherever they are. Shockwave Canada is the exclusive distributor of industry-leading Storz shockwave therapy devices.

To learn more about our technology, call 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visit our website.