Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment used for certain long-standing tendon and soft tissue conditions.
At Louth Physio, it is used when symptoms have not fully settled with exercise-based rehabilitation alone, and where clinical evidence supports its use.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), uses controlled high-energy sound waves delivered directly to the affected tissue.
These sound waves help stimulate a healing response in tissue that has become slow to recover or stuck in a painful, chronic state.
How Does It Help?
Shockwave Therapy can help by:
• Increasing local blood flow
• Reducing pain sensitivity
• Stimulating tissue repair and regeneration
The aim is to move the tissue from a long-standing painful phase into a more active healing phase.
Why the Equipment Matters
At Louth Physio, we use the EMS Swiss DolorClast shockwave system.
Swiss DolorClast is regarded as the world’s leading shockwave device and is the reference standard used in approximately 95% of published, evidence-based shockwave research.
This matters because when shockwave is shown to be effective in clinical studies, those results are based on this specific technology, not lower-powered or non-medical-grade devices.
Part of a Bigger Rehabilitation Plan
Shockwave Therapy is never used in isolation.
It is always combined with appropriate exercise rehabilitation, load management, and education. This approach gives the best chance of long-term improvement rather than short-term symptom relief.
Radial Vs Focused Shockwave
Not all shockwave is the same. At Louth Physio, we use both radial and focused shockwave, depending on the depth of the tissue involved and the nature of the condition.
Radial Shockwave
Radial shockwave spreads energy over a broader area and is best suited to more superficial tissues.
It is commonly used where a wider treatment zone is helpful or where tissues are closer to the surface.
Focused Shockwave
Focused shockwave delivers energy to a precise point and can reach deeper tissues.
It is often used for deeper, long-standing, or more stubborn tendon conditions where accuracy and depth matter.