Wimbledon Chiropractic Sports Injury Clinic has always been a hub of medical technology, and we have been using Shock Wave Therapy at our Wimbledon Clinic for over ten years.
And we have seen a massive technology change in late 2021, with the older Radial shock wave devices changing towards the NEWER FOCUSED SHOCKWAVE MACHINES that we now have. (Read more about focused shock wave therapy below)
Focused Shock Wave Therapy Unit @ Wimbledon
BTL-6000 Focused Shock Wave Therapy
This latest development produces the most powerful & most efficient shockwaves for Shock Wave Technology for orthopaedic conditions (tendon, fascia and limb muscle pain).
In Early 2022, we decided to place a substantial £35K investment and bring this fantastic technology to London.
Due to its smooth results and comfort settings, it's fast becoming the new ESWT favourite of both patients and practitioners at the Wimbledon Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic, the London hub for ESWT for more than 10 years.
See The FOCUSED - ESWT Unit In Action:
Radial Shock Wave Therapy Unit @ Wimbledon
BTL-6000 SWT Topline
While still of the most mighty 'portable' radial shockwave on the market, it doesn't compare with the newer 'Focused ESWT' developments.
This older Radial ESWT therapy is characterised by loud clicking and an applicator in a gun shape form.
While we still use this device for some price-conscious clients, we recommend the Focused type of shock wave therapy for clients who want more from their ESWT treatment in London.
See The Radial ESWT Unit In Action:
Q & A's About Shock Wave Therapy
Whether you choose radial or focused shockwave therapy the treatment principle is similar. A supersonic acoustic (sound) wave is created by the unit:
RADIAL TYPE: The acoustic wave is created within the handpiece of our shockwave machine, the tissues on the route towards the injury site absorb the subsequent sound pulse.
FOCUSED TYPE: The sound wave is created within the muscle/ tendon tissue so you get all the effects where it matters.
The sound wave pulses create a sudden repetitive change in pressure within the affected tissues, essentially drumming it. This pressure change stimulates a marked healing response and pain reduction in tissues treated.
If there are also abnormal calcifications, scars or tight tissue in the wave's path, these will be dissolved apart by the drumming of the wave.
The benefit is both in how efficient it is, targets injured tissue, and leaves the excellent tissue undisturbed.
So the treatment sensation is different for both types of extracorporeal shock wave therapy:
How Does RADIAL Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) Feel?
Radial shock wave therapy is likened to a sensation of a finger flick on the skin. Still, there is more feeling when the scar tissue, adhesions, tendons or calcifications are drummed.
How Does FOCUSED Shock Wave Therapy Feel?
One of the fantastic things about focused shock wave therapy is that it only has sensation when the wave drums the injury, and this effect means no skin flicking sensation.
Typically this means focused SWT is tolerated better and means the dose can often be increased. This better tolerance means you can handle more therapy in a single session adding the bonuses seen with this focused treatment version.
Although it has been touted as a "Magic Wand", a pure scientific obsession spurred on treatment development.
Advancements in Shock Wave Therapy have taken the larger 'hospital-based' machines. The large shock wave units were seen until the 1990s.
At this point, the modern compact 'clinic-based' machines that Wimbledon Chiropractic & Sports Injury Clinic offers today came to market. This clinic-based shock wave unit started as the Radial type, and we now principally use our NEW focused type due to the comfort and results.
Why were these sizeable hospital-based shock wave units used?
Since the '70s, this treatment has been used to dissolve kidney stones and only in the last 25 years did we supply the remedy to tendons and other fibrous tissues to create an accelerated repair.
Don't worry the machines for tendons are designed for tendons are not as strong as the ones used to dissolve kidney stone.
Today there have been many positive studies in treating a range of extremity disorders with heel pain and shoulder pain showing excellent results.
(we typically add new NEWS reviews to our blog about new research)
MEDICAL EFFECTS
Analgesic effect - elimination of pain
Enhanced scattering of substance 'P', a pain-causing hormone Decrease of muscle tension Prevention of spasm and slowing of pain signals Acceleration of healing
Enhanced collagen production
Improved metabolism and micro-circulation Ligaments experience new blood vessel production Stimulation of osteoblasts activity (the bone repair cells) Mobility restoration
Enhance the re-absorption of calcium deposits
The penetration depth of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) depends on the pre-set energy (pressure) and the shape of the transmitter used (Radial vs Focused).
The Radial type of ESWT pushes the wave through the skin whereas the focused type converges energy so the pulse peak is targeted under the skin, typically this is set to target the injury.
NOTE: The values of penetration depth range 5mm up to 20 cm, which is why shock waves can be as effective as surgery in several conditions.
