Shock wave therapy
Mechanical waves applied to a targeted area, over a few sessions.
The device sends pressure waves into the targeted tendon or muscle, through the skin. The procedure is short and requires neither anaesthetic nor a break from your activity.
When it is used
Shock waves are mainly for pain that has been present for several weeks, when rest and rehabilitation alone have not been enough.
- Tendinopathies of the shoulder, elbow, knee or heel
- Painful or frozen shoulder, periarthritis humeroscapularis
- Lateral and ulnar epicondylitis
- Patellar tendinitis
- Achillodynia and Achilles tendon pain
- Plantar fasciitis and heel spur
- Lower back, hip and groin pain
- Myofascial pain and trigger points
- Muscle strain, prolonged after-effects of a sprain
- Certain tendon calcifications and secondary symptoms of osteoarthritis
How a session works
The practitioner locates the area to treat, applies a contact gel, then moves the head of the device over a few square centimetres. A session lasts around ten minutes. The treatment can be uncomfortable while it is being applied, and the intensity is set with you.
Shock waves do not replace rehabilitation, they go alongside it. The number of sessions and the interval between them depend on the initial assessment and on how you respond.
Is it reimbursed in Luxembourg?
Yes. You simply need to ask your doctor for a physiotherapy prescription.
The initial assessment helps determine whether this treatment is suitable for you. The treatment is carried out on your doctor's prescription.