Skip to content

RADIAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY (RSWT) at Ballarat Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine

Radial shockwave treatment (RSWT) is a non-invasive means of treating painful soft tissue conditions. It has been widely used both worldwide and in Australia for many years by elite sporting teams and in Sports Medicine clinics.

Radial shockwaves are high energy soundwaves transmitted from a probe held against the skin. Clinical studies demonstrate it to be a safe and effective means of treating plantar fasciitis1, tendon pain at the Achilles2, patellar3, hamstring4, gluteal5 and other tendons, and calcific tendinitis at the shoulder6. It can effectively reduce pain from the injured area to allow you to continue with other rehabilitation exercises.

Most conditions are treated once weekly for three weeks. Treatment occurs in the consulting room and takes about 10 minutes. There is no need for any specific post-treatment rest or immobilisation, and pain relief is rarely needed.

  1. Ibrahim Ibrahim M et al. Successful treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis with two sessions of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Foot Ankle Int 2010;31:391-397
  2. Rompe JD, Furia J, Maffulli N. Eccentric loading versus eccentric loading plus shock-wave treatment for midportion achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med 2009;37:463-470
  3. Furia JP et al. A single application of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 2013;21:346-350
  4. Cacchio A, et al. Shockwave therapy for the treatment of chronic proximal hamstring tendinopathy in professional athletes. Am J Sports Med 2011;39:146-153
  5. Rompe JD et al. Home training, local corticosteroid injection, or radial shock wave therapy for greater trochanter pain syndrome. Am J Sports Med 2009;37 1981-1990
  6. Rebuzzi E et al. Arthroscopy surgery versus shock wave therapy for chronic calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. J Orthopaed Traumatol 2008;9:179–185

Dr. Greg Harris