Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain
Posted on: 23 June 2021
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Knee pain can arise for a number of reasons. One of the most common causes in active people is patellar tendinopathy, which is colloquially sometimes called "jumper's knee." Podiatrists have traditionally recommended rest, anti-inflammatory medications and strengthening exercises to treat this condition. In recent years, they have also been making use of shockwave therapy to help people to recover more quickly.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy involves passing sound waves into the knee to stimulate the tissue around an injured tendon. This gentle stimulation encourages the tendon to heal. The passage of the waves also breaks down old scar tissue, which can prevent long-term injuries from healing correctly.
How Effective Is Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain?
If your knee pain is caused by patellar tendinopathy, then research suggests that shockwave therapy could help to reduce your pain and encourage your injury to heal. In a randomised controlled trial, shockwave therapy worked better than physiotherapy, exercises, knee strapping or anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of chronic patellar tendinopathy, with many patients reporting that their pain improved significantly and did not recur.
How Quickly Does Shockwave Therapy Work for Knee Pain?
Not every knee injury reacts in exactly the same way to shockwave therapy. The rate of recovery depends on a variety of factors, such as the severity of the injury and how long you have been suffering. Many people say that their knee pain reduces after just one shockwave therapy session. Other people need to have several sessions before they begin to experience any improvement. Most podiatrists recommend having multiple sessions to support the knee to heal.
Is Shockwave Therapy All You Need for Knee Pain?
Shockwave therapy can be very helpful for relieving knee pain and helping to get you back to your normal activities after an injury. To reduce your risk of developing patellar tendinopathy again, you should include some knee exercises in your regular fitness routine to build strength in the muscles that support the joint. A podiatrist can give you a program to follow to gradually build up your strength and therefore reduce your risk of experiencing another knee injury in the future.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
To find out whether shockwave therapy could help with your knee pain, the first step is to schedule an appointment with a podiatrist. They can diagnose the cause of your knee pain and recommend the most appropriate treatments for you.