What is Focus Shockwave Therapy
Focus Shockwave Therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), is a medical treatment that uses targeted shock waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues.
Focused Extracorporeal Shockwaves (ESWT) are high energy acoustic waves that stimulate the cells and the body’s intrinsic healing and decrease the patients pain.
Unlike radial shockwave therapy, which disperses energy over a wide area, focus shockwave delivers precise, high-energy pulses directly to the affected area (up to a depth of 12 cm). This precision allows for deeper penetration and a more targeted approach to healing.
How Does It Work?
The therapy involves the application of short, intense sound waves that travel faster than the speed of sound. These waves create a rapid increase in pressure, breaking down pathological deposits and stimulating the body’s natural healing processes.
The procedure promotes the remodelling of dysfunctional collagenous tissues, enhances blood circulation, and accelerates the repair and regeneration of damaged cells.
Conditions Treated with Focus Shockwave Therapy
Focus Shockwave Therapy is effective in treating a wide range of conditions, including but not limited to:
Tendinopathies: Such as Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and tennis elbow.
Muscle Pain and Injuries: Including muscle strains and myofascial pain syndromes.
Bone and Joint Disorders: Such as calcific tendonitis of the shoulder and knee osteoarthritis.
Focus Shockwave Vs Radial Shockwave
Precision: Focused shockwave therapy targets a specific area with high precision, allowing for treatment of deeper issues more effectively than radial shockwave, which spreads over a broader area.
Depth of Penetration: It can reach deeper tissues, making it suitable for conditions located further beneath the skin’s surface.
Energy Delivery: Focused shockwaves deliver a higher energy level directly to the affected area, which can lead to more effective outcomes for certain conditions.
Treatment Efficiency: Due to its targeted approach, focused shockwave therapy may require fewer sessions than radial shockwave therapy to achieve similar or better outcomes.
Patient Comfort: While both treatments are considered tolerable, the precise targeting of focused shockwave may reduce discomfort by avoiding unnecessary exposure of surrounding tissues to high-energy waves.
What to Expect During Treatment
During a Focus Shockwave Therapy session, you may experience a slight tingling or discomfort at the treatment site, which is generally well-tolerated. The number of sessions required varies depending on the condition being treated, but many patients feel improvement after just a few treatments.
