Sports Medicine
Dr. Ken Kinakin
D.C., CSCS
Dr. Ken Kinakin is a sport medicine doctor, chiropractor, certified strength and conditioning specialist and personal trainer! He’s also the author of the book “Optimal Muscle Training” and has competed in bodybuilding and powerlifting for over 20 years. Dr. Kinakin lectures around the world to doctors and personal trainers on the areas of weight-training, rehabilitation and nutrition. He is also the clinic director for the AIM Health & Wellness clinic (see www.aimhealthgroup.com), with a rehabilitation and training centre in Mississauga, Ontario. Dr. Kinakin founded the Society of Weight-Training Injury Specialists (SWIS), an organization that educates and certifies doctors, therapists and personal trainers in the area of exercise muscle testing, rehabilitation and treatment of weight training injuries (see www.swis.ca).
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Shock Wave Therapy
Q. I’ve heard some of the top pros are using shock wave therapy to repair muscle and grow faster. What’s your opinion on this treatment?
A. Shock wave therapy, which is known as ESWT (Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy) in the therapy world, sends acoustic shock waves into bone or soft tissue, similar to ultrasound therapy except at a higher frequency. Repeated shock waves to the injured area create new blood flow, which promotes tissue healing and breaks up the scar tissue that has penetrated tendons and ligaments. A second benefit is the reduction of chronic pain by creating a new inflammatory process. The brain reacts to this process by sending the necessary nutrients to the area, which promotes healing.
TIP: Because re-inflammation is being introduced, treated subjects cannot take anti-inflammatory medication afterward, nor should they ice the area.
I think shock wave therapy for specific bodybuilding injuries is an excellent adjunct for soft-tissue injuries such as rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow, patellar and Achilles tendinopathies, and plantar fasciitis, which can alter bodybuilders’ training routines. For some, relief is instantaneous. For others, relief may not occur for several weeks or even months.
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