Does Shockwave Therapy Hurt?
The short answer is yes it will likely hurt a little bit. The main aim of shockwave therapy is to elicit an inflammatory response to the injured area, promoting tissue healing and regeneration. For this reason, it is important that the therapist applies the right level of energy to initiate the desired response. Typically, your first treatment will start with a low level of intensity and increase to a point where you feel discomfort but not pain. Your therapist will frequently monitor your adherence to treatment and adjust the dosage depending on how the application feels to you. The frequency of application is very fast, meaning treatment is administered typically within a few minutes. Therefore, the time in which you will experience discomfort won’t be unbearably long.
About The Treatment
Generally, shockwave therapy consists of 3 to 6 treatment sessions spaced out one week apart. You will likely get used to the feeling of the treatment after your second session, and typically you will feel an instant pain-relieving effect after. However, if you experience pain after treatment, you may use ordinary pain relief medication such as paracetamol. Do not use anti-inflammatory medication or apply ice to the treated area as both may interfere with the body’s self-healing process.
Book Now
If you would like to find out more about shockwave therapy at our Rowlands Castle physiotherapy clinic or book to have some shockwave treatment then please feel free to book online or contact us.
