Shockwave therapy is a form of physical treatment that employs impulses of sound waves to treat soft tissue injuries. This treatment is often used with other treatments, such as exercise or physical therapy. It is often used to treat tendonitis, bursitis, plantar fasciitis (pain in the heel), and osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee or hip. Shockwave therapy creates high-frequency sound waves that are transmitted into pain-sensitive areas of soft tissues near joints and causes a temporary inflammation reaction in these tissues.
Shockwave therapy is used as a short-term treatment and generally involves the delivery of short bursts of sound waves to targeted tissues to cause an inflammatory reaction which helps speed up the healing process. One of the main advantages of this procedure is that it does not involve any surgery or muscle movement. It can be used to treat injuries in joints that do not require surgical intervention but also works well for joint or soft tissue problems requiring a shorter recovery period. The device delivers pulses of waves in rapid succession with a certain amount of pressure, depending on the type of shockwave therapy used. The amount of pressure or intensity depends on the size and severity of the soft tissue injury.
How Our Care Plan Works
1. Better
First, getting you out of pain fast and restoring mobility based on your exam and the goals you have for yourself. Our focus is on getting you feeling better and moving better. We prove that our process can help you feel better quickly. This allows you to take control of your health during the restoration process and sets you up for long-term success.
2. Stronger
Next, we create a stronger and healthier you. Through corrective exercises and continued treatments, we focus on healing damaged tissue and rebuilding strength. When you’re no longer constantly thinking about your problem and taking a more active role in your health, you’ll know you’re getting stronger and more confident.
3. Healthier
Here we help you to take ownership of your health. This phase allows you to live the life you want without worrying about pain. Regular “tune-ups” and at-home exercises keep you strong and healthy.
What Conditions Can Shockwave Therapy Treat?
Shockwave therapy can be used to treat several conditions, including:
Calcific Tendonitis
Calcific tendonitis is a painful condition in which the tendons become inflamed and swollen after injury. The inflamed tendon is painful when touched. Calcific tendonitis usually occurs due to long-term repetitive overuse of a joint or muscle. Shockwave therapy is an effective treatment for this condition because it can quickly break up the calcium crystals in the inflamed tendons and cause them to dissolve, thus relieving the pain.
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a condition in which inflammation and proliferation of the connective tissue are present in the sole. This condition leads to tenderness and pain at the bottom of the heel, which, if ignored for a long time, may damage the ligament. Ultrasound and shockwave therapy can effectively treat plantar fasciitis by breaking down the excess tissue and resulting in quick recovery.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint disease characterized by pain, weakness, stiffness, and swelling. In this condition, the cartilage that covers the ends of bones wears away due to aging or overuse. Shockwave therapy is an effective treatment for osteoarthritis because it helps reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling, common symptoms of this condition.
Chronic Stress
An accumulation of stress can lead to the development of internal scar tissue in soft tissues. Such scar tissue can sometimes become calcified and cause pain, weakness, tenderness, and limited movement of joints. This therapy is effective for this condition because it breaks down the calcified tissue, thus relieving pain in affected areas.
Morton’s Neuroma
Morton’s neuroma is a common condition in which a nerve develops on the top of the foot, which presses against the bone, causing pain, tenderness, swelling, and numbness in the toes. Shockwave therapy for Morton’s neuroma involves delivering targeted sound waves to the irritated nerve. These targeted sound waves cause an inflammation reaction in the nerve, which relieves symptoms of this condition.
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis
Retrocalcaneal bursitis is a condition in which the tendons of the foot rub against the bones in the heel. This rubbing causes inflammation and pain that sometimes is chronic. Therapy is an effective treatment for this condition because it helps relieve pain and inflammation caused by this condition.
Medial epicondylitis
Medial epicondylitis is when the tissues around the elbow become inflamed. The inflammation causes pain, tenderness, and swelling of tissues around the elbow. Shockwave therapy is an effective treatment for this condition because it helps reduce pain and inflammation caused by this condition.
Lateral epicondylitis
Lateral epicondylitis is when the tissues around the elbow become inflamed. Like medial epicondylitis, it causes pain, tenderness, and swelling of tissues around the elbow. This therapy is an effective treatment for this condition because it helps reduce pain and inflammation caused by this condition.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition in which the tendons in the wrist are compressed, leading to a lack of blood supply and nerves that supply sensation to parts of the hands and fingers. This therapy is an effective treatment for this condition because it helps reduce pain and inflammation caused by this condition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What Other Health Benefits Does it Offer?
Shockwave therapy also has other health benefits besides treating conditions, as discussed above. It is a very gentle form of therapy and does not involve any surgery or muscle movement. New blood vessels form, increasing blood circulation and speeding up the healing process. It also improves muscle tone and strength, giving the patient a more youthful appearance and also helping in reducing the risk of injury. It also helps develop new tissues and increases the production of red and white blood cells. This helps accelerate the healing process and prevents diseases like osteoporosis, gout, and other inflammatory diseases. It is also known to have anti-aging properties and helps in increasing the production of collagen which has anti-aging properties.
What Happens During the Procedure?
This therapy is a very inexpensive and non-invasive treatment that can be performed in the comfort of your own home. The procedure involves the application of sound waves to the targeted tissues, which can be conducted on a small device called an ultrasound machine. Depending on the condition you are suffering from, a specific amount of pressure or pressure level will also be administered at different times. The duration of the treatment would also vary depending on the condition you are suffering from.
The process is painless as it involves no surgery or movement of muscles. Some common side effects are redness, swelling, tenderness, and minor bleeding at the application site. A small amount of discomfort will be felt if you have an injury at a joint or over an area that is tender to touch due to stretching or inflammation, which may last for one day or disappear by itself in a day or two.
What Should a Patient Expect After Treatment?
The patient should notice some improvements in their pain after the first session of therapy. The procedure does not cure the condition; instead, it helps reduce symptoms and swelling so that the patient can move and function without much pain. One therapy session is usually enough for mild injuries but for chronic conditions. It may take more than one session to bring about some improvement. A series of sessions are usually required to attain maximum relief from pain and swelling.
Is Shockwave Therapy Painful?
This painless treatment method involves ultrasound technology to deliver sound waves at specific frequencies into the affected area. There is no surgery involved or movement of muscles. The frequency of shock waves and pressure applied can be adjusted to control the pressure level, but even in high-pressure mode, it is still a very mild procedure. You may notice some discomfort at the application site, but after a few minutes, it will be over, and you will feel no pain. Some people experience slight redness at the application site, lasting for one to two days.
How Long Does Shockwave Therapy Take to Work?
You may notice some symptoms improve after the first session of therapy. Achieving a full recovery might require more than one therapy session, but the recovery time is faster than surgery. You will notice an improvement in 1-2 sessions, further enhanced by continuing treatment. Usually, one session of shockwave therapy is enough for mild cases but for chronic conditions. It may take more than one session to bring about some improvement.
It may take 3-6 months to attain maximum results for mild cases. However, mild cases can be treated in as little as 3-5 sessions. Chronic injuries may require 6-8 sessions for maximum improvement.
Can Shockwave Therapy Cause Side Effects?
Every treatment has its risks and side effects. This therapy is a comparatively new medical technology, but it is often very effective in relieving pain. The level of pressure applied for each patient may vary for different patients depending on the area involved. The amount of pressure and force needed to break down the calcified scar tissue can cause discomfort if you have an injury at that site or an old injury that has been swollen for a long time. However, the pain and discomfort will be minimal in most instances, but it is always good to have an experienced doctor who can monitor the pain and side effects. Some common side effects are redness, swelling, tenderness, and minor bleeding at the application site.
Who Should not Get Shockwave Therapy?
Some patients should not get this therapy as it may be unsafe or ineffective for them. They include people with bleeding disorders, skin rashes, blood clots, blood clotting problems, hemophilia, and recent surgeries. These patients should consult their doctor before getting a session of this treatment. This is because these conditions may make the treatment ineffective. Shockwave therapy can also be unsafe for pregnant women and patients with pacemakers, as these devices may malfunction when exposed to high pressure.
What Conditions Can Shockwave Therapy Treat?
This therapy can treat any condition caused by injury to the soft tissues. The condition must be causing pain and swelling before, during, or after an injury. Injuries like a knee or ankle sprain, muscle strains, sprains, and repetitive motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, and others can cause these injuries. Any illness, such as arthritis, cancer, or autoimmune conditions, must not cause the condition.
This therapy is also suitable for skin rashes, burns, and sores. There are also a few other conditions that can be treated through therapy, like tendonitis and tennis elbow. It can also treat conditions caused by nerve compressions like carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, tarsal tunnel syndrome, lumbago, and others. It can also be used for cancer, infections, and autoimmune diseases.
Are There any Restrictions After The Treatment?
The patient should not continue painful activities for at least two weeks. It is essential to take the treatment slowly and be careful while engaging in any activity which involves sudden movements of the injured body part. The duration of treatment depends on the severity of the injury. However, three to six sessions are usually recommended for most injuries. Many patients feel no restrictions after the first session, but some may need continued treatment for several months to achieve maximum results. Pain and swelling may last 1-2 weeks after the therapy session, but they will subside after a week. You should heal fully before engaging in any vigorous activities.
Will Shockwave Therapy Help me?
The answer depends on the injury. This therapy is a very effective treatment for arthritis, tendinitis, and bursitis, but it may not be effective in all cases. It breaks down scar tissue and increases the blood flow to the affected area. It does this by applying high-frequency pressure to the affected area using ultrasound technology to stimulate the release of growth factors that promote healing.
It has been proven to effectively treat conditions like carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendonitis. It can also treat sprains and strains caused by overuse in athletes or those active in sports. However, it may not be effective for all injuries as each requires a different amount of pressure to bring maximum results. This is why it is essential to have a specialist who can monitor the procedure and administer the right amount of pressure needed for your unique condition.
This therapy is a relatively new medical technology, but it has proved to be very effective in relieving pain and swelling. It is currently being used to treat numerous conditions involving injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, and nerves. It can also treat skin rashes, soft tissue burns, sores, and infections.
