How Shockwave Therapy Can Help with Knee Pain

How Shockwave Therapy Can Help with Knee Pain

At Active Health, we are always looking for innovative, evidence-based treatments to help our clients stay active, recover from injuries, and maintain a high quality of life. One such treatment that has gained significant attention in recent years is shockwave therapy. If you suffer from knee pain—whether due to osteoarthritis, tendinitis, or other musculoskeletal conditions—shockwave therapy could be a safe and effective treatment option to support your recovery.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged tissues. It has been widely used in physiotherapy, sports medicine, and orthopaedics to treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those affecting tendons, ligaments, and bones.

The treatment works by delivering acoustic waves to the affected area, promoting increased blood flow, reducing pain, and stimulating the body’s natural healing processes. This makes it particularly beneficial for conditions that have been slow to heal or have become chronic.

How Can Shockwave Therapy Help with Knee Pain?

Knee pain is a common issue that affects people of all ages and activity levels. Whether you are an athlete managing an overuse injury or someone dealing with age-related joint changes, shockwave therapy can offer a drug-free, non-invasive solution to alleviate pain and restore function.

Here are some of the key ways shockwave therapy can help with knee pain:

• Reduces Pain: Research has shown that shockwave therapy can significantly reduce pain by decreasing inflammation and stimulating pain-modulating pathways in the nervous system. A study published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine found that ESWT was effective in reducing pain and improving function in patients with patellar tendinopathy (Wang et al., 2018).
• Promotes Tissue Healing: By increasing blood flow and stimulating cellular repair mechanisms, shockwave therapy accelerates the healing of damaged tissues. This is particularly beneficial for tendon injuries and chronic conditions such as patellar tendinitis, also known as jumper’s knee.
• Breaks Down Calcifications: In cases where calcium deposits have formed in soft tissues around the knee, shockwave therapy can help break down these deposits, allowing the body to reabsorb them naturally.
• Improves Mobility and Function: By reducing pain and inflammation, shockwave therapy allows individuals to move more freely and return to their normal activities more quickly.
• Non-Invasive Alternative to Surgery: For those looking to avoid injections or surgery, shockwave therapy provides a non-invasive alternative that supports natural recovery and pain relief.

What Conditions Can Shockwave Therapy Treat?

Shockwave therapy has been shown to be effective for a variety of knee-related conditions, including:

• Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee) – Common in athletes, particularly those involved in jumping sports like basketball or running, patellar tendinopathy can cause persistent pain. Studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of ESWT in reducing symptoms and improving function in affected individuals (Furia et al., 2019).
• Osteoarthritis-Related Knee Pain – While osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition, shockwave therapy has been shown to provide pain relief and improve joint function, making it a valuable complementary treatment.
• Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITBS) – This overuse injury, common in runners and cyclists, can benefit from the pain-reducing and anti-inflammatory effects of shockwave therapy.
• Calcific Tendinitis – When calcium deposits form in the tendons, they can cause significant discomfort. Shockwave therapy helps to break down these deposits, relieving pain and restoring movement.

What to Expect During a Shockwave Therapy Session

Shockwave sessions are quick, lasting a maximum of 30 minutes. Once the physiotherapist has determined shockwave is the correct treatment modality and confirmed there are no contraindications, treatment is delivered via a handheld device that sends controlled acoustic waves to the affected area. Most patients describe the sessions as mildly uncomfortable rather than painful and treatment can be modified to a level that suits you.

A standard course of treatment is a minimum of 4 shockwave sessions, but some may require more depending on the type and duration of the injury. Initially the sessions will be spaced weekly but this may spread out to a few weeks in the later stage of treatment. Many patients experience noticeable improvements within a few sessions but continued benefits are expected up to 12 weeks after beginning treatment.

Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?

Shockwave therapy is a safe and effective option for many individuals suffering from knee pain, particularly those with chronic conditions that have not responded well to other treatments. However, it may not be suitable for individuals with certain medical conditions, such as those with blood clotting disorders or active infections.

At Active Health, our team of physiotherapists will conduct a thorough assessment to determine if shockwave therapy is the right option for you. If appropriate, we will integrate it into a comprehensive rehabilitation plan, combining it with exercises, manual therapy, and other evidence-based interventions to maximise results.

Conclusion

Knee pain can be frustrating and limiting, but with the right treatment approach, it doesn’t have to hold you back. Shockwave therapy offers a promising solution for those seeking pain relief, improved function, and accelerated recovery without the need for invasive procedures.

If you’re struggling with knee pain and looking for an effective, non-invasive treatment option, contact Active Health today to find out if shockwave therapy is right for you. Our team is here to support you on your journey to pain-free movement and optimal health.

References

• Wang, C. J., Ko, J. Y., Chan, Y. S., Weng, L. H., & Hsu, S. L. (2018). Shockwave therapy improves pain and functional outcomes in patients with patellar tendinopathy. The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(5), 1180-1187.
• Furia, J. P., Juliano, P. J., Wade, A. M., Schaden, W., Mittermayr, R., & Wang, C. J. (2019). Shock wave therapy compared with eccentric loading for the treatment of chronic insertional Achilles tendinopathy. The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 101(22), 1983-1993.