Radial Shockwave Therapy
Radial Shockwave Therapy is an innovative, cost-effective therapy that targets specific pain in the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It's non-invasive and safe, giving significant or complete relief of pain in 90% of patients suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, reducing the need for surgery, pain medication and injections.
At Adelaide Sports, we use the Swiss DolorClast® — the original radial shockwave device, and the most widely researched in the world, backed by over 100 million treatments globally.
For symptoms below the knee, we suggest you start with a podiatry appointment as your starting point.
How does it work?
Compressed air accelerates a small projectile inside the handpiece, striking a fixed applicator against your skin. This energy converts into a shock wave delivered radially, spreading across a broader treatment area. It stimulates healing by increasing blood flow to the affected tissue, and helps reduce pain by disrupting the signals sent by local nerve fibres. With less pain limiting your movement, your practitioner can progress you through a more effective exercise programme, getting you moving faster than with some other treatments. It's for this reason that many AFL and NRL teams use this technology for their players.
What does it treat?
Plantar fasciopathy and heel pain
Achilles tendinopathy
Medial tibial stress syndrome
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip)
Calcaneal tendinopathies and entesopathies
Myotendinous tears and muscular pathologies
Trigger points and areas of spastic tissue
Chronic tendon pain that hasn't responded to other treatment
Sessions & Cost
Most conditions require 3 to 8 sessions, at a rate of one to two per week — we're currently finding excellent benefit after 4 to 5. Radial Shockwave Therapy is $56.00 per session, in addition to your standard consultation fee. A health fund code is available for Podiatry only; ask your practitioner or our admin team for details.
Book in with a practitioner
Radial Shockwave is offered across our physiotherapy, chiropractic and podiatry teams. Book an appointment with a practitioner who offers Radial Shockwave below:
FAQ
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Your practitioner will confirm you're a suitable candidate and may combine Radial Shockwave with other treatments where appropriate. A hand-held device delivers the shockwaves through ultrasound gel over the affected area — each cycle takes about 5 minutes. The machine can be loud, and you may feel some discomfort during treatment, easing quickly afterwards, along with some localised redness over the area treated.