Here at the Canberra Biomechanics & Sports Rehab Clinic, we pride ourselves in staying up to date with new treatment modalities and effective adjunct therapies that can help you with your lower limb pain. Our podiatrists specialise in lower limb pain management including anything from the hips all the way down to your feet. Whether you are an elite athlete or simply dealing with the wear and tear of daily life, our team here are trained in Dry Needling and Shockwave Therapy, which can help you get back to your sport. Both treatments have been clinically shown to provide significant pain relief for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions, and our podiatrists, who are experts in the biomechanics and health of the feet and lower limbs, are qualified to administer these therapies.
What is Dry Needling?
Dry needling involves the insertion of a fine, solid needle into specific trigger points within the soft tissue (i.e. muscle knots). These trigger points can be responsible for referred pain in areas of the body. Dry needling is similar to acupuncture in that it uses fine needles, but it is based on Western medicine rather than traditional Chinese medicine.
How does it work?
The goal of dry needling is to release the tight muscle bands, reduce pain and restore normal muscle function and improve mobility. The needle is inserted into the muscles at the site of the trigger points, or in areas where muscles are tight. This mechanical stimulation can cause a local twitch response, which helps to release the knots, improve blood flow and promote healing.
Common Musculoskeletal conditions we treat with dry needling include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Shin splints
- Hamstring injuries
- Hip injuries including hip flexors and glute muscles
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues. High energy sound waves are directed through a probe targeting the area of pain which helps promote more blood circulation, stimulate collagen production and enhances the healing process of damaged tissues.
How does it work?
During the treatment, your podiatrist will place the shockwave device onto your skin in the area of the injured tissue, where it will then emit waves and send thousands of pulses that penetrate the through to target the injured or painful area. In doing so it can help accelerate tissue repair and decrease pain by:
- Reducing inflammation
- Enhancing tissue healing by boosting blood flow
- Stimulating tissue regeneration and collagen synthesis
- Reducing pain by blocking nerve transmission and pain receptors
- Breakdown calcification and fibrous tissues or thickening in soft tissues
Common Musculoskeletal conditions we treat with Shockwave Therapy include:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Tibialis posterior tendinopathy
- Shin splints
- Patella tendinopathy
Dry needling and shockwave therapy are evidence-based, non-invasive treatment options that we have available here at the clinic that can provide significant relief for a variety of lower limb conditions. Whether you’re suffering from chronic tendinopathies, plantar fasciitis, or general muscle tightness, these therapies can help reduce pain, promote healing, and improve mobility.
If you’re dealing with lower limb pain, seeing our team at the Canberra Biomechanics & Sports Rehab Clinic is an excellent first step. Our team here have the expertise to determine the underlying causes of your pain and incorporate these therapies, alongside other treatment strategies, to get you back on your feet faster.
