Radial Shockwave Therapy

What is Radial Shockwave Therapy?

Radial Shockwave Therapy is an innovative cost-effective therapy that can target specific pain in the bones, joints, muscles, tendons and ligaments. It’s a non invasive and safe treatment that gives significant or complete relief of pain in 90% of patients suffering from musculoskeletal conditions, reducing the need for surgery, pain medication and injections.

How does Radial Shockwave Therapy work?

Shockwaves are high powered sound waves that transfer energy from outside the body to inside the body. These shockwaves stimulate the healing process in your body via an increase in blood flow to the affected tissue, which triggers a cascade of healing cells to move into the area. With decreased pain affecting your movement, your practitioner will be able to progress you through a more extensive exercise programme as part of your management, which will increase your functional recovery and get you moving much faster than some other modalities. It is for this reason that many AFL and NRL teams are now using this specific shockwave machine for their players.

What can I expect as part of my treatment?

At Adelaide Sports, we pride ourselves on the thorough diagnosis and management of your condition. As part of your session, our practitioners will decide whether you are an applicable candidate for Radial Shockwave Therapy and will combine the use of this therapy alongside of more traditional modalities (where applicable). At each session, your practitioner will assess how you tolerated the prior session and if there has been an adequate healing response to determine if you are able to proceed through the treatment pathway.

In your session your practitioner will use a hand-held device connected to a machine that turns compressed air into sound waves. Ultrasound gel is applied to your skin to help transmit the shockwaves. Some pressure will be applied to your affected tissue and the device will be moved over the area. Each cycle takes approximately 5 minutes to deliver.

The machine can be loud when used. You may experience some discomfort throughout the treatment which eases fairly quickly once the treatment stops. You may experience some localised redness over the area that has been treated.

How many sessions will I need?

Most musculoskeletal conditions require between 3 and 8 sessions to assist in healing and pain reduction however each individual’s response can vary. We are currently finding excellent benefit after 4 to 5 sessions.

What is the cost of Radial Shockwave Therapy?

Radial Shockwave Therapy is $50.00 per session, in addition to your standard consultation fee where your practitioner will re-assess you and use any other applicable modalities. There is a health fund code applicable for Podiatry only. Please discuss this with your individual practitioner or our administration team.