What is shockwave therapy?
Officially called low-intensity extracorporeal shockwave therapy (Li-ESWT), the procedure is more commonly known as shockwave therapy.
The energy waves stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms through microtrauma to the area. It triggers your own regenerative cells to come to the area and heal the tissue. It enhances vascularization and nerve regeneration as well.
How is Shockwave Therapy Done?
The energy waves stimulate the body's natural healing mechanisms through microtrauma to the area. It triggers your own regenerative cells to come to the area and heal the tissue. It enhances vascularization and nerve regeneration as well.
In the 1990s, scientists determined Shockwave therapy may be used to:
- Increase circulation around injured soft tissues
- Break down embedded calcium (like kidney stones)
- Stimulate healing cells that generate new bone tissue and soft tissue ( like stem cells)
- Reduce pain by overstimulating nerve endings in the affected area
Shockwave therapy can also be combined with a chiropractic therapy program to get injured people back to work - or playing their favorite sport - faster. It's an ideal treatment for people who do not yet want or need surgery for chronic pain or injuries.
If you have any type of soft tissue injury that isn't responding to other treatments, research suggests that shockwave therapy is worth a try.
Frequently Asked Questions
Success Rates: 90% improvement was recorded for the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis (heel pain) by the Journal of Orthopedic Research (2005). The same publication quotes a 77% success rate when treating Tennis Elbow with Radial Shockwave Therapy and other clinical studies have generally reported a success rate in excess of 75%. Nice (National Institute of Clinical Excellence) provided evidence to the NHS: NICE evidence for Shockwave.
Shockwave Therapy is FDA cleared for the treatment of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain and connective tissue disorders; there are no known risks or complications.
Shockwave therapy is an elective pay modality and is not covered by insurance.
Shockwave Therapy is not recommended for patients on blood thinners, those with malignancies, and those who are pregnant.
Shockwave treatment is often performed once a week for a period of 3-6 weeks, depending on Chronicity of the problem.
Patients may begin to see improvement 4 weeks after their last treatment. More significant improvement often occurs 8-12 weeks after the last treatment.