The Walking Clinic podiatrist Gillian Cudaj uses shockwave therapy on a diverse clientele to treat a wide range of issues, both chronic and acute. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
From children with muscle imbalances to older people with arthritis and elite sportspeople with acute injuries, little bothers The Walking Clinic podiatrist Gillian Cudaj more than watching her clients endure a painfully slow recovery.
It’s why one experience, in particular, comes to mind when she talks about the clinic’s shockwave therapy.
“I had one client with plantar fasciitis, and we had tried all the usual things,” she says.
“I gave her footwear, activities, exercises, and we were getting good results but not quick enough. Plantar fasciitis can cause intense heel pain and it was awful watching her live with it.
“We used shockwave therapy on her, and by the second session, she noticed a big jump in pain relief. We find we have a big success rate within two or three sessions.”
Most commonly, to address conditions like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, shockwave uses ultrasonic treatment to deliver pulses of sound waves that break down fibrous scar tissue deep in the muscle, stimulating tissue regeneration and yielding more flexible joints.
It’s one of the most commonly applied treatments employed at The Walking Clinic, which is one of the only clinics in Canberra offering this kind of therapy. There, shockwave therapy is used in conjunction with other solutions, such as exercise and customised orthotics, to address a much wider range of conditions than most people realise.
“We use it to treat people with chronic conditions but also acute injuries. Everyone from children to older clients and athletes with acute injuries can benefit,” Gillian says.
“It effectively accelerates the healing process. Anecdotally speaking, we’ve had consistently good results for The Walking Clinic clients.”
Shockwave therapy is used in conjunction with other solutions such as specialised footwear, orthotics and exercise regimens. Photo: Thomas Lucraft.
The sound wave pulses are delivered using an instrument that resembles a massage gun hooked up to a machine.
Intimidating as the term “shockwave therapy” may sound, Gillian says the treatment doesn’t cause pain – only mild, short-term discomfort.
“It can feel uncomfortable while the treatment is being done and it might feel a bit achy for a few minutes after – kind of like the pain you sometimes experience with a firm massage because it’s getting deep into the tissue,” she says.
Gillian has seen other benefits to the therapy, including improved blood flow, which stimulates natural healing. She has also used it to treat conditions many people wouldn’t associate with this kind of therapy.
“Arthritis tends to restrict movement through the joints and that can lead to muscle fatigue. While shockwave therapy obviously can’t cure conditions like arthritis, I have used it for clients who suffer from it as a form of pain management and to help loosen those joints,” she says.
“I have also used it on elite athletes getting ready for marathons or who are recovering from big events, older patients with chronic posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and children with muscle imbalances to assist with the strain on their muscles as they go through different growth stages.
“It’s a versatile tool.”
For more information, contact The Walking Clinic.
Loading ...
