Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy North Lakes

Focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) at Abound Physio, your leading physio clinic in North Lakes

We use Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (the real deal) here at Abound Physio, your Sports MSK Clinic in North Lakes. Unlike simpler, ‘radial’ devices that scatter energy, FSWT generates a powerful acoustic wave that targets the culprit structures that are driving potential pain messages and flips the switch on your natural healing processes.

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Reduction in chronic plantar fasciopathy pain after 2-year follow-up.

Hammer et al., 2003

+mo

Compared to steroid injections (which typically last ~3 months).

The benefits of FSWT are sustained and often increase for 12 months or more because the therapy actively stimulates tissue remodelling, not just pain masking.

Success rate for shoulder calcific tendinopathy cases

Malliaropoulos et al., 2017

Understanding the power of a true shockwave in North Lakes

introduction to shockwave

If you’ve been living with stubborn, chronic tendon or heel pain, you know the frustration. You’ve tried rest, ice, stretches, and maybe even injections – but the pain always seems to return, putting a hard limit on your life.

The reason most traditional treatments fail for chronic conditions is simple: they treat the symptom (pain), not the root cause (damaged tissue). But there is an advanced, non-invasive treatment that targets the damage deep inside your body and flips the switch on your natural healing process: Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (FSWT).

what it does

It significantly increases the expression of growth factors (VEGF, eNOS), which serve as metabolic signals to grow new blood vessels (neovascularisation). This delivers the oxygen and nutrients needed to heal the chronic injury.

It triggers cell proliferation (PCNA) and increases essential growth factors, massively ramping up the metabolism of collagen and protein to rebuild and strengthen tendons and ligaments.

For calcific conditions, the focused energy mechanically targets the deposit and initiates a metabolic response that facilitates the cellular reabsorption and removal of the calcium.

It alters pain signalling by decreasing the production and release of key neuropeptides, such as Substance P, effectively turning down your nervous system’s chronic alarm / addressing neurogenic pain.

Due to its precise, controllable focal zone, FSWT can non-invasively treat deep-seated myofascial trigger points (MTrPs) in muscles often not well suited to standard manual therapy techniques.

It promotes the expression of factors (like BMP-2) that encourage osteogenesis (new bone growth), making it crucial for bone-related protocols and strengthening the tendon-bone junction.

Focused shockwave therapy vs. corticosteroid injections

If you’re facing chronic tendon pain, you might be offered a corticosteroid injection (CSI). While CSI offers rapid, anti-inflammatory relief, it is fundamentally a short-term, masking solution; benefits often fade within three to six months. More critically, steroid injections carry the long-term risk of weakening tendons, degrading cartilage, and compromising tissue structure over time.

Focused shockwave therapy, in contrast, is the superior long-term choice. Its core mechanism is regenerative: it actively repairs and strengthens tissue. This means its benefits are not only sustained but often progressively increase for 12 months or more after treatment, providing excellent safety with minimal side effects while avoiding the structural risks associated with injections. FSWT fixes the problem; it doesn’t just mask the pain.

conditions it’s helpful for

This therapy isn’t experimental; it is supported by high-quality systematic reviews for several conditions that have failed to usual care (rest, injections etc.).

Literature shows good quality research is supportive of ESWT, particularly when the condition won’t go away. (Dizon et al., 2013; Yin et al., 2014)

Multiple good-quality papers agree that ESWT is effective, reporting pain decrease, function improvement, and quicker reabsorption of calcium deposits. (Huisstede et al., 2011; Verstraelen et al., 2014)

We have evidence supporting its use for Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy and Glute Medius Tendinopathy. (Mani-Babu et al., 2014)

Assess: Pinpointing the Culprit

Our process starts with a dedicated focused shockwave assessment to identify the exact site and structure that is driving your pain. We ensure FSWT is the medically appropriate and most effective solution for your specific condition.

Confirm FSWT suitability for your condition.

Rule out contraindications (e.g., recent steroid use).

Perform clinical assessment and testing.

Plan: Customising Your Dose

FSWT success relies entirely on precision; not just in targeting, but in dosing. We adhere strictly to international standards, creating an individualised protocol that specifies the precise energy level (EFD), the number of pulses, and the session intervals. This guarantees the stimulus is strong enough to trigger profound cellular repair while remaining pain-adapted for your comfort.

Define the ideal number of sessions (3–8 total).

Set session intervals (typically 1–2 weeks apart).

Determine precise, pain-adapted energy levels.

Create a phased strengthening and loading program.

Provide a clear recovery timeline (8–12 weeks for full effect).

Treat: Activating Long-Term Healing

The treatment phase involves applying the focused energy to turn down pain signals and flip the switch on tissue repair. Crucially, FSWT can create a pain-free “window” that allows you to successfully engage in the necessary therapeutic loading. The true long-term success of FSWT is achieved when combined with your customised physiotherapy and strengthening plan.

Deliver targeted regenerative energy.

Down-regulate the sensitive nervous system (pain reduction).

Activate new blood flow and collagen synthesis.

Integrate specific, prescribed loading exercises.

Build future resilience and load tolerance to prevent recurrence.