ESWT Treatment For Shoulder Pain
Watch as Dr Edwin Ong, Former Resident Doctor, Dr Tan & Partners (DTAP clinic) talks about ESWT, Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, as an effective treatment for shoulder pain.
Shock Wave therapy is a safe, quick and non-invasive treatment using energy from sound waves to activate the self healing properties of the body and accelerate the recovery process.
It does so in a number of ways:
- Firstly, through a process known as cavitation, Shock Wave therapy stimulates the production of fibroblasts and tenocytes. These are the cells responsible for the healing of connective tissues such as tendons. The end result is tissue regeneration.
- Secondly, the Shock Waves stimulate microscopic circulation and therefore metabolism within the treatment area, which promotes healing and the breakdown of calcification deposits, also known as spurs.
- Lastly, Shock Wave therapy diminishes pain by over-stimulation of the nerves that send pain signals to the brain.
Shoulder Pain
It works for a variety of causes of shoulder pain including rotator cuff tendinitis and frozen shoulder.
Rotator cuff injury
Repetitive overhead arm movements, heavy lifting or other forms of trauma can strain the rotator cuff tendons and lead to tendinitis. Tendinitis can also develop due to chronic degeneration. The pain is felt mainly when raising the arm outwards and upwards from the body. When tendinitis is present, there is an increased risk of a rotator cuff tear occurring. The tear can be partial or complete and results in weakness when trying to raise the arm.
Frozen shoulder
Also known as adhesive capsulitis, this is a condition in which the movement of the shoulder becomes severely restricted due to the growth of abnormal bands of tissue (called adhesions) between joint surfaces and a lack of synovial fluid to lubricate the joint. Frozen shoulder commonly occurs between the ages of 40 to 60 and can occur after a rotator cuff impingement, a tendon tear, or even minor injury. The problem usually resolves on its own, but this can take up to three years.
To conduct the treatment for shoulder pain, we place the treatment probe over the affected area and deliver the required number of shocks. The treatment for shoulder pain is tolerable. Most patients will need about 2 to 3 sessions each 2 weeks apart.
If you are suffering from shoulder pain and requires tratment for shoulder pain, speak to your Doctor and ask if Shock Wave therapy is right for you.
Please call or drop us an email at hello@dtapclinic.com.sg for an appointment.
