Stubborn long-lasting pain shouldn’t be something you have to live with, shockwave therapy might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Whether it’s an old sports injury, ongoing tendon pain, or chronic muscle tension, this advanced treatment helps stimulate your body’s natural healing processes — often speeding up recovery and reducing discomfort without surgery or medication.
At Melmer Holistic Health in Balgowlah, we use shockwave therapy across the Northern Beaches to help patients recover from chronic injuries, enhance mobility, and get back to feeling their best.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues.
Interestingly, shockwave technology was first developed in the 1980s to treat kidney stones (a medical procedure known as lithotripsy). Over time, researchers discovered that the same technology could be applied to musculoskeletal care — promoting tissue regeneration and pain relief in tendons, ligaments, and muscles.
Today, shockwave therapy is a trusted and evidence-based treatment used by chiropractors, physiotherapists, and sports medicine professionals — and it’s now available right here in Balgowlah at Melmer Holistic Health.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?
Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic waves deep into the affected tissue, where they create microscopic stimulation at the cellular level. This process triggers the body’s natural healing response and helps:
- Increase blood flow to nourish and repair injured tissues
- Reduce inflammation and pain by desensitising nerve endings
- Break down scar tissue and calcifications that restrict movement
- Stimulate collagen production to strengthen tendons and ligaments
Over time, this leads to stronger, more mobile, and less painful tissues. Many people notice improvement after just a few sessions.
Conditions Treated with Shockwave Therapy
At Melmer Holistic Health, we use shockwave therapy on the Northern Beaches to treat a range of chronic or overuse injuries, including:
- Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow
- Shoulder tendonitis and calcific tendinopathy
- Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
- Gluteal tendinopathy and hip bursitis
- Chronic muscle tightness or trigger points
- Acute & Chronic disc conditions
It’s especially effective for stubborn injuries that haven’t responded to stretching, rest, or other conservative treatments.
What to Expect During a Shockwave Session
A typical session at Melmer Holistic Health lasts around 10–20 minutes. A gel is applied to the treatment area to help transmit the waves, and the handheld device delivers gentle pulses to the affected tissue.
You may feel a tapping or pulsing sensation — sometimes mildly uncomfortable but well tolerated. Any mild soreness afterward is temporary and part of the body’s natural healing process.
Most people require 3–6 sessions, depending on the injury and its severity.
How Shockwave Therapy Complements Chiropractic Care and Rehabilitation
Shockwave therapy integrates beautifully with chiropractic care and rehabilitation at Melmer Holistic Health.
- Chiropractic adjustments restore joint alignment, improve mobility, and reduce nervous system irritation.
- Shockwave therapy targets soft tissue dysfunction — breaking up adhesions, reducing inflammation, and accelerating repair.
- Rehabilitation exercises then strengthen and stabilise the area to prevent re-injury.
The combination of shockwave and chiropractic care optimizes the soft tissues and nervous system maximize body mobility and muscle activation. Therefore you will get the most out of your prescribed rehab, ensuring long-lasting results and full functional recovery. It’s a truly holistic approach to pain and performance, designed to help you move better and feel stronger.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
- Non-invasive and drug-free
- Promotes natural healing and long-term tissue repair
- Improves circulation and flexibility
- Reduces inflammation and chronic pain
- Speeds recovery when combined with chiropractic and rehab
- Proven effective for many musculoskeletal conditions
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
If you’ve tried other treatments without lasting relief, shockwave therapy at Melmer Holistic Health in Balgowlah could be the next step. It’s particularly effective for chronic tendon or ligament injuries that have plateaued in healing.
Your chiropractor will perform a full assessment and determine whether shockwave therapy should be part of your customised care plan, alongside manual therapy and rehabilitation exercises.
The Bottom Line
Originally developed to treat kidney stones, shockwave therapy has evolved into one of the most effective treatments for musculoskeletal pain. When combined with chiropractic adjustments and active rehabilitation, it offers a powerful and natural way to restore movement, reduce pain, and accelerate recovery.
At Melmer Holistic Health, we’re proud to offer shockwave therapy to Balgowlah and the Northern Beaches community as part of our holistic approach to healing.
Ready to experience the benefits of shockwave therapy?
Book an appointment with Melmer Holistic Health, Balgowlah, and find out how we can help you recover, move, and feel your best.
