Stress fractures (Stress Fractures)

These are small cracks in the bone that usually arise from pressure or repeated use over a long period. They are met often in athletes and in those who move and have to bear impact regularly. This kind of injury can cause pain and requires a long time for recovery.

At PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic we use Focused Shockwave Therapy with 3D Dynamic Focusing technology, in order to stimulate the repair of the bone, reduce the pain, and help the patient go back to living their life more quickly.

How does Focused Shockwave Therapy help treat a stress fracture?

Focused Shockwave Therapy with 3D Dynamic Focusing is a treatment that does not require surgery, using high-energy sound waves in order to stimulate the body's process of restoration and build up the bone that has been injured, working in the following way:

  • Stimulating the creation of new bone cells – the shock waves help hasten the process of restoring the bone tissue, so that the crack heals more quickly
  • Increasing the circulation of blood – promoting the circulation of blood to the area that has been injured, increasing the carrying of nutrients and oxygen to the bone tissue
  • Relieving pain – reducing the sensitivity of the nerve endings, helping the patient feel more comfortable and be able to move better

3D Dynamic Focusing technology allows the energy from the shock waves to have the depth of the treatment adjusted precisely, so that the point of injury deep in the bone can be reached better, helping increase the effectiveness in repair and reduce the time of recovery.

The medical evidence that supports it

Research studying the effectiveness of Focused Shockwave Therapy in treating stress fractures has found a tendency to give good results, particularly in athletes and in those who move a great deal:

  • A study with 40 runners – retrospective research found that runners who had symptoms of a stress fracture and received treatment with FSWT were able to go back to running without pain, with no complications reported [source: pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov (opens in a new tab)]
  • The results in cases of slow healing and non-union of bone – research indicates that FSWT can stimulate the process of restoring bone, by stimulating the creation of new blood vessels and increasing the working of the bone-forming cells, making it suitable for treating bone that heals slowly [source: complete-physio.co.uk (opens in a new tab)]

Although further study is still needed in order to confirm the effectiveness of FSWT definitely, the results of the trials at present support that FSWT is an effective and safe choice in treating stress fractures, particularly in the group of athletes.

The process of treatment at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic

At PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic we design the plan of treatment to suit each patient, and the process of treatment consists of:

  1. The preliminary assessment of the symptoms – the rehabilitation medicine physician will examine and analyse the symptoms and plan treatment specific to the individual
  2. Focused Shockwave Therapy – each session of treatment takes about 5 - 10 minutes, and in general it must be done 3-5 times within 2-4 weeks
  3. Following up the result – checking the patient's progress continuously and adjusting the plan of treatment as suitable

Most patients usually feel that the pain is clearly reduced after only a few sessions of treatment, and are able to come back to moving better and better as the treatment goes on.

Why choose PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic?

  • Expert rehabilitation medicine physicians – with experience in treating stress fractures with modern technology
  • A holistic approach to treatment – combining shockwave therapy with exercise specific to the individual and physiotherapy, so that the recovery is as effective as possible
  • Advanced technology – using the Focused Shockwave Therapy machine with 3D Dynamic Focusing, certified to medical standards, in order to give a result that is precise and as effective as possible

Making an appointment to begin restoring your stress fracture

If you are facing a stress fracture that affects your life, Focused Shockwave Therapy with 3D Dynamic Focusing at PYONG Rehabilitation Clinic, carried out by rehabilitation medicine physicians, may be a suitable choice for you

📞 Telephone: (+66) 88 589 0896