What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-surgical and non-invasive therapy for musculoskeletal pain and injuries. ESWT uses high-pressure acoustic sound waves to increase blood flow and stimulate the body’s natural healing process to promote tissue regeneration.
How does Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy work?
ESWT directs high-amplitude sound waves to the affected area, causing microtrauma and stress to the affected tissue. Doing so triggers our body to release more growth factors and increase blood flow to the affected area, allowing the body to heal the injured tissues.
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Benefits of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
ESWT helps you avoid surgery or relying on steroid injections.
ESWT can create the following beneficial effects within your body:
- Stimulate blood flow to the area
- Release growth factors for tissue repair
- Reduces pain and inflammation
- Stimulate the release of stem cells
Types of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
There are three types of shockwave therapy available commercially for various conditions:
- Focused Shockwave Therapy: Delivers a focal point of high energy and effectively treats specific areas of injury at the muscle, tendons, joints, or bone. It has a high penetration depth and can target deep tissue injuries up to 12cm.
- De-focused Shockwave Therapy: Delivers energy over a larger surface area and effectively treats acute or chronic wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers.
- Radial Pressure Wave Therapy: This is not a shockwave therapy because its sound waves have lower energy and low penetration depth. However, they can effectively treat muscular conditions such as trigger points or strains.
You must receive the correct shockwave therapy for your condition, or you will not see good results. Therefore, we recommend you check with your healthcare professional before undergoing ESWT in Singapore. If in doubt, ask what type of shockwave you will receive before commencing.
Conditions Managed with Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
ESWT can manage various conditions, including:
- Muscle conditions (e.g. calf strain, hamstring strain)
- Tendon conditions (e.g. plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, PTTD, runner’s knee, jumper’s knee)
- Joint conditions (e.g. plantar plate injury, ankle sprains, knee osteoarthritis, meniscus injury)
- Bone conditions (e.g. sesamoiditis, shin splints, stress fractures)
- Wounds (e.g. diabetic foot ulcer, post-surgical wounds)
The International Society of Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST) has also published guidelines and a list of standard indications for the ESWT here.
Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions
When Should Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Be Avoided?
You should avoid ESWT in Singapore if you have the following:
- Pregnant
- Active cancer (history of cancer may proceed with caution)
- Bleeding disorders (e.g. haemophilia, thalassemia, taking strong blood thinners)
Are there any side effects from ESWT in Singapore?
ESWT generally do not have any side effects. We normally expect slight bruising or discomfort post-treatment, which does not affect your ability to walk or perform normal activities. However, there are conditions where ESWT is not for you:
- You are currently pregnant.
- You have bleeding disorders or are taking strong blood thinners.
- You are undergoing treatment for cancer.
Is ESWT treatment painful?
ESWT can cause discomfort during the treatment, typically at the area of injury. Your podiatrists or healthcare professional should monitor your level of discomfort and make necessary adjustments to the energy level. It is vital to understand that reducing energy level can affect the effectiveness of the treatment. Therefore, you should work with your podiatrist or healthcare professional for the best outcome.
Where can I find Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in Singapore?
ESWT is widely available in Singapore, but not every clinic offers all types of shockwave therapy. Most clinics only offer Radial Pressure Wave Therapy, which is not a shockwave.
At Straits Podiatry, we believe in providing the best selection of therapies and offer both Focused ESWT and Radial Pressure wave therapy. Our podiatrists are also internationally certified in providing ESWT, giving you the best assurance.
Are any specific qualifications or licenses required for healthcare professionals to perform ESWT in Singapore?
At Straits Podiatry, we believe in providing the highest quality of care and safety. Therefore, all our podiatrists have received further training and are certified in providing medical shockwave treatment by ISMST. It is an additional step to ensure you receive the best shockwave treatment in Singapore.
Does insurance cover ESWT in Singapore?
Insurance coverage for ESWT in Singapore highly depends on your insurance plan and diagnosis. ESWT is an outpatient treatment and is not a day surgical procedure. We recommend you check with your insurance provider for more information on coverage and claim procedures.
