Saying Goodbye to Stubborn Elbow Pain: How Shockwave Therapy Helps Sunbury Residents Break Free from Tennis Elbow
- Julian Simpson
- Jun 17
- 5 min read
Written by Dr Julian Simpson — Chiropractor with 15+ years of experience, Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation, and author/reviewer of 800+ health articles.
Saying Goodbye to Stubborn Elbow Pain: How Shockwave Therapy Helps Sunbury Residents Break Free from Tennis Elbow
Whether you are spending your weekends swinging a racket at the local tennis clubs, tending to your garden, or logging long hours typing at your desk in the Sunbury town centre, elbow pain can quickly put a handbrake on your life.
That persistent, nagging ache on the outside of your elbow is a common condition known medically as Lateral Epicondylitis (LE)—but you probably know it simply as Tennis Elbow.
If you’ve been resting, icing, and stretching but still find it painful to turn a doorknob or lift your morning coffee, you aren't alone. Tennis elbow affects roughly 1 to 3% of the population. Thankfully, advanced clinical solutions like Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) are changing the game for chronic pain management.
A recent landmark 2023 clinical study published out of the Gülhane Training and Research Hospital dives deep into exactly how shockwave therapy works, comparing two powerful types of treatments to find out which one offers the fastest path to recovery.
Despite its name, tennis elbow isn't reserved for athletes. It is an overuse injury caused by repetitive microtrauma to the extensor muscles and tendons in your forearm—specifically the extensor carpi radialis brevis.
When these muscles are subjected to repetitive gripping or wrist movements, tiny micro-tears develop where the tendon attaches to the bony bump on the outside of your elbow (the lateral epicondyle). This leads to:
A dull ache at rest that spikes into sharp pain during activity.
Significantly reduced grip strength.
Disrupted sleep due to nighttime throbbing.
Difficulty with everyday tasks, heavily impacting your overall quality of life.
When standard stretching and anti-inflammatory medications only offer temporary relief, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) steps in. ESWT is a non-invasive treatment that sends acoustic soundwaves directly into the damaged tendon tissue. This mechanical stimulation triggers your body’s natural healing response by boosting blood circulation, stimulating cellular metabolism, and shutting down overactive pain receptors.
Clinically, shockwave therapy is divided into two distinct types:
Focused Shockwave (f-ESWT): Uses a fast pulse and high energy density to target small, precise focal points at a deeper tissue level.
Radial Shockwave (r-ESWT): Uses a slower pulse and lower energy density to spread waves across a larger, more superficial surface area.
The Science: What the New Research Reveals
The randomized clinical trial evaluated 56 patients (aged 19 to 60) suffering from chronic tennis elbow for at least three months. Participants received four weekly sessions of either focused or radial shockwave therapy combined with a targeted home exercise program.
The results provided fascinating insights into how each type of shockwave targets different aspects of recovery:
1. Pain Relief: Focused Shockwave (f-ESWT) Leads the Way
Both groups experienced incredible drops in pain during rest and daily activities. On the 10-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS), resting pain and activity pain plummeted significantly across the board.
However, focused shockwave had a distinct edge when it came to nighttime pain.
Patients in the f-ESWT group saw their night pain drop significantly (from an average score of 3.58 down to a negligible 0.50).
The r-ESWT group did not see a statistically significant change in night pain (p=0.083).
Takeaway: If elbow pain is keeping you awake at night, f-ESWT’s ability to penetrate deeper and stimulate localized healing factors (like nitric oxide for tissue repair) makes it highly effective.
2. Restoring Strength: Radial Shockwave (r-ESWT) Wins for Muscle Power
While focused shockwave dominated deep pain relief, radial shockwave proved superior at building muscle strength back up.
Using advanced computerized testing (isokinetic testing at speeds of 60°/sec and 180°/sec), researchers measured the strength of the wrist extensor muscles after treatment.
The r-ESWT group achieved significantly higher muscle strength values post-treatment compared to the f-ESWT group.
Takeaway: Because radial shockwave spreads its energy across the superficial muscle bellies of the forearm, it is incredibly efficient at rehabilitating muscle function and power.
3. Everyday Function and Quality of Life
When looking at the DASH questionnaire (which measures disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand), only the r-ESWT group demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in daily function (dropping from a disability score of 43.71 down to 28.85). This is largely because the massive boost in muscle strength allowed patients to return to their normal routines with greater ease.
Radial vs. Focused Shockwave: A Summary of the Findings
Benefits & Outcomes | Radial Shockwave (r-ESWT) | Focused Shockwave (f-ESWT) |
Daytime & Activity Pain Relief | Excellent | Excellent |
Nighttime Pain Relief | Minimal Change | Superior Relief (Dropped to 0.50/10) |
Wrist Muscle Strength | Superior Improvement | Moderate Improvement |
Daily Functional Improvement | Significant Boost (DASH score improved) | Stable |
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What This Means for Your Recovery Layout
The conclusion from the data is clear: both types of shockwave therapy are exceptionally safe and effective. They simply excel in different areas.
If your primary barrier is a deep, throbbing ache that wakes you up at midnight, focused shockwave can target that deep tissue layer. If your main frustration is a lack of forearm strength and an inability to perform manual work or grip tools, radial shockwave offers unparalleled functional restoration.
Ultimately, the best clinical outcomes happen when an expert can assess your specific lifestyle demands and tailor a treatment program to you.
Ready to Reclaim Your Injury-Free Lifestyle in Sunbury?
You don't have to live with a persistent ache that limits your day-to-day life. At our Sunbury chiropractic clinic, we look at the whole picture—combining advanced therapeutic modalities with expert care to get you moving without restriction.
Whether you are looking to get back to full strength on the local sporting fields or simply want to get through a workday pain-free, we are here to help.
How Chiropractic Care May Help
At Health Wise Chiropractic, we take a comprehensive approach to posture-related care.
Treatment may include:
We focus on addressing both the symptoms and the underlying biomechanical stress contributing to neck dysfunction.
About the Author
Dr Julian Simpson is an Australian chiropractor with over 15 years of experience in musculoskeletal healthcare and rehabilitation.
He is a Board Member of the Chiropractic Australia Research Foundation and has reviewed and written more than 800 evidence-based health articles focused on spinal health, rehabilitation, sports injuries and conservative care approaches.
His treatment focus includes:
Chiropractic adjustments
Sports chiropractic
Massage therapy
Shockwave therapy
Laser therapy
Non-surgical spinal decompression
Dr Simpson provides patient care through Healthwise Chiropractic, serving communities including Sunbury, Melton, Diggers Rest and surrounding regions.
Reference
Akınoğlu B, Örsçelik A, Ezgi Yılmaz A, Usman Shehu S, Özal Ş, Günaydın H, Kocahan T. Radial versus focused extracorporeal shockwave therapy in lateral epicondylitis: Acute effects on pain, muscle strength, upper extremity function, and quality of life. Turk J Phys Med Rehabil. 2024 Oct 16;71(1):19-27. doi: 10.5606/tftrd.2024.14060. PMID: 40270634; PMCID: PMC12012923.
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