Shockwave therapy technology is the ideal sports medicine equipment for trainers, physiotherapists, chiropractors, and any healthcare professional who works extensively with athletes. Oftentimes, when faced with a significant injury athletes must take time off to rest and participate in conservative treatment or undergo surgery, which again means more time off. Shockwave therapy can treat in-season athletes, giving rapid benefits and minimal time away.

Shockwave therapy is drug-free and non-invasive. Using a shockwave device, a practitioner applies acoustic pressure waves to an affected area for short periods of time. These pressure waves stimulate metabolism and circulation, accelerating the body’s natural healing process.

A recent study published in Current Sports Medical Reports listed several musculoskeletal conditions in athletes that shockwave therapy could treat, including:

Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy

A report published in BioMed Research International concluded that shockwave therapy is superior to routine physiotherapy for treating calcified rotator cuff tendinopathy.

Lateral Epicondylitis

Shockwave therapy has been reported to be successful in up to 73 per cent of the cases of tennis elbow that were refractory to other non-surgical treatments. Due to its non-invasive nature and low complication rates, it is growing in usage.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome

A study published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found shockwave therapy used in conjunction with a specific exercise program had a success rate of nearly 87 per cent two months after treatment.

Hamstring Tendinopathy

A report from The American Journal of Sports Medicine studied forty professional athletes with hamstring tendinopathy and found an 85 per cent success rate for patients treated with shockwave therapy compared to just 10 per cent for traditional conservative treatment.

Patellar Tendinopathy

A recent study published in the Journal of Sports Science and Medicine examined the immediate effect of just one session of shockwave therapy on patellar tendinopathy and found a significant reduction in tissue stiffness.

Achilles Tendinopathy

A systematic review published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine concluded shockwave therapy was associated with better results according to the visual analog scale for pain, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society scale, Likert scale for satisfaction, Roles and Maudsley scale, Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment–Achilles questionnaire, and numerical rating scale.

Other Tendinopathies

One study concluded that shockwave therapy should be the first choice for tendinopathies because of how effectively it reduced the pain that accompanies tendinopathies, improving functionality and quality of life.

Plantar Fasciitis

A study in Brazil looking at data from fifty-six patients with plantar fasciitis demonstrated progressive improvements at all levels of evaluation using three different parameters.

Bone Stress Injuries

One study looked at ten soccer players with chronic stress fractures of the fifth metatarsus and tibia who received three to four sessions of shockwave therapy. After eight weeks, the results were “excellent,” and all players gradually returned to activities.

Medial Tibial Stress Syndrome

A study published in the International Journal of Surgery assessed whether one session of shockwave therapy in addition to an exercise program could help military cadets with shin splints. After four weeks, cadets could run nearly twenty minutes on average without pain.

World-Class Technology To Go

If you’re working with athletes, then you’re likely going to need sports medicine equipment you can easily bring with you out in the field. The MASTERPULS® ONE is compact, highly efficient, and designed for maximum ease of use. An ideal starter model, the MASTERPULS® ONE is our most economic model.

To learn about integrating this technology into your practice, call 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visit our website.