Spectrum Technology UK Ltd

Runners that have had their marathon training programmes disrupted by troublesome foot and ankle injuries can now call on the help of a revolutionary treatment device that is used by various Premier League football teams and was widely used by athletes at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China.

The Swiss DolorClast is an Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) device that draws on the latest medical technology to treat Plantar Fasciitis (troublesome pain in the sole of the foot) and Achilles Tendonopathy (inflammation of the Achilles Tendon).

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a relatively new technology and The National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recently issued guidance that it is a safe treatment option for foot and ankle injuries. ESWT is a beneficial alternative to invasive surgery and the Swiss DolorClast can be used to treat and manage symptoms.

"Most of us tend to ignore the early signs of injury and hope it will go away. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and we end up with a chronic recalcitrant injury that is more difficult to treat and one that has a greater chance of coming back to haunt us even after it has eventually gone away," warned Professor Nicola Maffulli, one of the most pre-eminent sport medicine and orthopaedic consultants in the UK.

The Swiss DolorClast works by passing low-energy ‘radial' shockwaves through the skin to the injured part of the body. Passing these shockwaves through the surface of the skin initiates an inflammation-like condition in the injured tissue that is being treated.

A significant benefit of using the Swiss DolorClast to treat injury is that runners can continue to train during the treatment programme.

The UK now boasts an ever-expanding network of orthopaedic surgeons, chartered physiotherapists and osteopaths that are using the Swiss DolorClast.

Professor Maffulli added: "Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a well defined high-end technology that allows us to appropriately manage sports-related soft tissue injuries around the foot and ankle. We have been engaged in scientific studies on the use of the Swiss DolorClast and ESWT technology for five years and, in the right patients that have not benefitted from other treatment modalities, we have achieved close to a 70% success rate."

Giles Harvey from Amersham has been able to continue his training for the London Marathon after starting a course of treatment with the Swiss DolorClast for his Plantar Fasciitis.He said: "The pain on the underside of my foot was becoming troublesome and I was feeling it no matter how far I was running. But I've just had the first treatment in a series with the Swiss DolorClast and the transient analgesic effect took hold straight away and I returned to training immediately."

Back to Latest News