At Hurst Podiatry, we offer shockwave therapy services for people of all ages at our podiatry clinic.

If you’re experiencing pain or any issues with your feet and/or lower limbs in Melbourne, book an appointment to see us now.

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that podiatrists commonly used to treat a wide variety of conditions that can affect the feet and lower limbs.

Using a therapy machine and special handpiece, acoustic “pulses” are delivered into damaged tissues with the aim of reducing pain and stimulating a healing response.

This treatment is commonly used as part of a treatment plan, rather than on its own.

How does shockwave therapy work?

The acoustic waves or pulses are generated by a rapidly moving piece of metal in the handpiece.

These pulses work to reduce pain in the damaged tissue by interfering with the pain signals that are produced at the site of the injury.

This interference leads to a number of beneficial effects, including:

·         It restarts recovery of an injury.

When recovering from a chronic injury, the healing process can sometimes “get stuck” and instead of healing continuing, the chronic injury actually deteriorates over time. As the shockwave unit causes microtrauma, the body treats this as a low-level new injury, which triggers the healing process of the body again.

·         Increased blood flow to the injury.

The trauma the shockwave machine creates stimulates an increase in blood flow to the treated area by the reactivated healing process.

·         Increased collagen production.

Collagen fibres are the material our muscles and ligaments are predominantly made of. Replacing and renewing these collagen fibres is an important part of the recovery process for these tissues. Shockwave helps to stimulate and increase the production of collagen by triggering healing and blood flow.

·         Reduction of the chemical that stimulates pain.

Shockwave helps to break down substance P, which is one of the peptides that is responsible for triggering pain receptors, like the NK1 receptors that exist in chronic injuries.

What is Shockwave therapy used to treat?

Some of the common conditions a podiatrist may use shockwave therapy to treat include:

• Achilles tendinopathy
• Ankle weakness
• Chronic ankle pain
• Fibroma
• Heel spurs
• Plantar fasciitis
• Shin splints
• Tibialis posterior tendon dysfunction

These are only some of the conditions that shockwave therapy may be used to treat.

As we mentioned earlier, shockwave therapy is rarely used as the sole treatment for any conditions to do with your feet and/or lower limbs. It will almost always be used in conjunction with other treatments as part of your treatment plan.

Why Choose Hurst Podiatry for Shockwave Therapy?

At Hurst Podiatry we pride ourselves in our knowledge and expertise in the field of podiatry, including our understanding of shockwave therapy and its benefits.

We believe in finding the best and most appropriate treatment option for you, and if it includes shockwave therapy, we will work closely with you, so you understand what to expect and why we’re choosing this treatment option.

We approach your foot and lower leg health holistically and like to ensure that we’re providing you with the best and most effective treatment option to suit you and your condition.

We’re also here to answer any questions you have because we want all of our clients, including those using our shockwave therapy services in Melbourne, to achieve the best results possible.

If you need help with your feet in Melbourne’s Eastern suburbs, schedule an appointment at Hurst Podiatry today.

Only available at 402 Maroondah Highway Clinic

Specialising in children’s podiatry and sports injuries