Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive evidence based outpatient intervention that uses pressure waves to create acoustic pulses which reduce pain and promote healing in injured ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues. Sometimes referred to as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, it can be an effective alternative to surgery and injections for many chronic conditions. It is FDA cleared and well researched.
How Shockwave Therapy Works
Shockwave therapy is delivered through targeted contact with a hand-held device that allows acoustic waves to radiate up to 5 inches into tissue. When these waves reach your injured tissues, they cause microscopic damage. This microtrauma triggers an acute inflammatory response–your body’s instinctive physiological reaction to begin repairing itself. This promotes new cell growth, collagen production, and improved circulation. In addition to injury repair, shockwave treatment impulses break up calcification that may have built up around an injury and desensitize nerve endings to provide relief from pain.
Conditions Treated with Shockwave Therapy
These conditions include, but are not limited to:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Morton’s neuroma
- Retrocalcaneal bursitis
- Patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee)
- Leg pain (strained calves/hamstrings)
- Hip tendonitis/bursitis
- Shoulder tendonitis
- Rotator cuff injuries
- Osteoarthritis in knees, hips, or shoulders
- Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
- Back and Neck pain
- Peripheral Neuropathy
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is unique in its ability to target specific, isolated injuries and pain sites that may otherwise be hard to treat. It stimulates the body’s natural healing process to repair itself. Many patients attain pain relief and improved range of motion with their first treatment. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy provides:
- Pain reduction
- Increased blood and lymphatic circulation
- Increased cell wall permeability (cellular metabolism)
- Grow blood vessels, and collagen/connective tissue
- Stimulation of stem cells
- Elimination of trigger points
- Breakdown of calcium deposits in long standing cases of tendonitis (calcific tendonitis)
- Increased mobility
- Treatment for chronic inflammation
Shockwave Therapy Treatment Session
During your first appointment, you will first have a thorough, professional evaluation with your physical therapist. Together you will discuss your injury/condition, questions/concerns, and goals in rehabilitation. Our physical therapist may recommend incorporating extracorporeal shockwave therapy into your treatment plan. Using this method, you can expect: discussion with your physical therapist that you are an appropriate candidate. A comprehensive plan of care that includes additional treatment methods and routines (i.e., stretching, strengthening, manual therapy.) During shockwave treatment you will be comfortably positioned and thin layer of gel will be applied to your affected body part to help conduct the energy transferring waves. Your physical therapist will use shockwave applicator head to slowly move over or around pain epicenter until appropriate dosage has been reached. Each shockwave treatment session lasts 5-15 minutes. Most patients only need 2 to 5 sessions to achieve full benefit and there are NO side effects.
Am I a candidate for shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy is an extremely safe and effective treatment method for most patients, but not every patient is a good candidate. There are a few instances when patients should NOT use shockwave therapy including when: they are under the age of 18, are pregnant, have certain heart/nerve conditions or wear a pacemaker. Patients should also avoid shockwave therapy if they have an open wound/infection at the treatment site or have received a steroid injection within the last six weeks. Your physical therapist will review your medical history and discuss if you are an appropriate candidate for shockwave therapy.
Call 941-355-5565 to book your Shockwave Treatment today!
