Tendinopathy of the forearm flexors (golfer’s elbow) or forearm extensor tendons (tennis elbow) often results from repetitive micro trauma from overuse, causing pain, and sometimes weakness and swelling on the inside or outside of the elbow, and down into the forearm. Elbow tendinopathy occurs more commonly in those who perform repetitive manual work, or participate in sport or exercise involving those muscle groups. The condition can also be aggravated by simple things such as typing, using a computer mouse, or other general daily activities.

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to create localised micro trauma at the flexor or extensor tendon, which stimulates the body’s natural healing process. This facilitates the creation of new blood vessels for improved blood flow, the breakdown of scar tissue, increased collagen production, reduced inflammation, decreased pain and increased function.

Shockwave may be a particularly good option for those with chronic elbow tendinopathy that may have had little response to other treatments. It is important to note that the effectiveness of Shockwave therapy may vary between patients, and is likely to be influenced by the cause, duration and severity of symptoms. 

Written by

Dr. Christie Callender, Chiropractor at Beyond Self, Dee Why

Dr. David Reading, Chiropractor at Beyond Self, Dee Why

Dr. Maddy Szalay, Chiropractor at Beyond Self, Dee Why

References:

Du, Y., Chen, S., Zhou, J., Li, L., & Yang, X. (2019). Shockwave therapy for the treatment of tennis elbow: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Medicine (Baltimore), 98(38), e17187. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000017187.

Chen, X., Wang, L., Huang, Y., He, C., & Yang, L. (2020). The efficacy of shock wave therapy for golfer’s elbow: A systematic review and meta-analysis. International Journal of Surgery, 73, 36-44. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2019.11.022.