Shockwave Therapy: An Excellent Approach for Musculoskeletal Issues

Our health is the most important thing. However, the lifestyle that is characteristic of much of the Australian population is leading to musculoskeletal problems becoming more and more prevalent.

Because of long hours spent in a desk chair, do you experience frequent mid-section pain that is made worse by strenuous physical activity? Have you recently noticed numbness in your legs and feel that your muscles are showing signs of weakness?

In that case, a good idea would be to call a chiropractic clinic, which will create a personalised treatment plan for you, taking into account your medical history and the physical specifics found during the consultation.

Chiropractic in Australia is a regulated and well-defined practice that, for many people, leads to scientifically provable results.

When should you use the professional services of a chiropractic clinic? Firstly, if you experience muscle pain. Are you dealing with lower back pain and neck sensitivity issues, or has your posture undergone significant changes in recent years?

In that case, the practitioner you call will most likely have the answers for your situation. From sports injuries to joint pain, chiropractic can be at least as effective as traditional physiotherapy. Moreover, in many cases, it can be used as an adjuvant treatment.

Are you experiencing chronic pain that has come to affect your way of life? In that case, the chiropractor you see may decide to use shockwave therapy.

For cases in which your daily pain has exceeded a certain threshold, or if you do not respond positively to deep-tissue massages, shockwave treatments can be an excellent option to stimulate your nervous system, improve local circulation, and reduce inflammation.

Chiropractic, when performed by specialists, can be a solution to your problems. Plus, it is holistic and non-invasive.

It’s Safe

In many countries, chiropractors have a negative reputation. And rightly so, as many nations do not adequately regulate their activity. So, there is nothing to prevent an inexperienced individual from practising their craft.

Combine that with techniques like spinal manipulation, and you have a recipe for disaster. However, Australia does things differently. Individuals wishing to practice chiropractic in our country must complete a bachelor’s degree in chiropractic science, something that will take three years.

Afterwards, they will have to obtain a post-graduate master’s degree, which will require an additional two years of studies.

The training schemes required for aspiring chiropractors are controlled by the Chiropractic Board of Australia, which is the regulatory body that administers the activity of chiropractic professionals in our country.

The CBA operates under the supervision of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and its members are appointed directly by the Minister for Health.

Compared to other countries, such as the United States, where chiropractors are regulated at the state level, in Australia, their work is controlled nationally, and the standards of practice are tightened.

Australian chiropractors cannot practice without a license from the CBA and must continue their professional training and participate in CPD activities.

How Does ESWT Work?

Has your local chiropractic clinic recommended a couple of sessions of shockwave therapy for the musculoskeletal ailment that is bothering you? Then, you’re probably interested in learning the ins and outs of this technique. ESWT works by directing high-energy electrical waves to the joint or skin area that is affected by inflammation.

Once in contact with the surface, these electrical waves have a mechanical effect on the musculoskeletal system and promote the body’s natural healing process, stimulating the release of endorphins, aiding vascularisation, and promoting tissue regeneration.

Shockwave therapy is scientifically proven to be effective for a wide range of tendinopathies. Plus, it can also be used as an adjunct treatment for traditional physical therapy or spinal adjustments. Does it hurt? No, typically, most people perceive electrical waves as local discomfort.

However, the intensity of these waves can be adjusted according to the patient’s tolerability. A local inflammatory reaction is encouraged, as this may help local vascularisation and thus contribute to the elimination of chronic pain.

However, if the procedure is unpleasant, your chiropractic clinic may use a numbing agent before the procedure begins.

For What Medical Conditions Is It Recommended?

Shockwave therapy can be used for a wide range of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Do you suffer from plantar fasciitis, also known as insole inflammation? In that case, shockwave treatment can aid traditional physical therapy, encourage local vascularisation, and reduce chronic inflammation.

Are you a runner who suffers from shin splits or a marked degradation of your hamstrings? In that case, shockwave treatment can significantly reduce the healing time of your injuries and help you get back in shape with minimal pain.

Electrical shockwave is often prescribed as a treatment for sports injuries, and its effectiveness, in blind studies, has been up to ten times higher than placebos.

From Achilles tendinopathies to hip bursitis, issues with the ligaments around the rotator cuff, or chronic degeneration of the patellar tendon, ESWT is suitable for most diseases affecting the musculoskeletal system. Plus, it’s safe, and the side effects are minor.

ESWT is a popular non-surgical treatment option for patients suffering from chronic pain, can be used as an adjuvant treatment for severe conditions such as stress fractures and common ailments like lower back pain or spinal stenosis, and is a technique that should not be missing from the range of services offered by a professional chiropractic clinic.

Can Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Work Together?

In the public perception, there is this misconception that physical therapy and chiropractic are rival techniques that cannot be used concurrently. However, in many cases, this is false.

Physical therapy involves the use of various stretching techniques and mobility exercises whose aim is to reduce local inflammation and improve patients’ quality of life.

On the other hand, chiropractic often involves either spinal adjustments, electrical stimulations, or deep-tissue stimulation.

In other words, although the techniques used may be different, the end goal in both physical therapy and chiropractic is the same: to address the problems that led to the musculoskeletal system problems and not just to solve the symptoms.

To be effective, both stretching exercises and shockwave therapy or spinal manipulation techniques must be supplemented with a well-thought-out muscle strengthening and posture management plan.

Did your local chiropractic clinic significantly reduce the lower back pain you experienced? Then, to keep the effects constant, you must eliminate the factors that caused the problem in the first place.

Chiropractic and physical therapy can complement each other and are effective methodologies that, in the hands of professionals, can be an excellent way to resume your daily activities pain-free.