Shockwave Therapy is designed to help accelerate body’s natural healing process as well as relieving pain and inflammatory conditions. Shockwave therapy uses soundwaves to facilitate healing and to break up calcium deposits in the body. Shockwave has been shown to be more or as effective as cortisone injections without the side effects. Most patients see benefits immediately and report relief after 4-6 sessions.
The following are some of the most common conditions that are successfully treated with Shockwave therapy:
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Achilles tendonitis
- Heel spur
- Morton’s neuroma
- Gout
- Knee arthritis
- Jumper’s knee
- ACL recovery
- Hamstring tears/injury
- Osgood Schlatter
- Hip / greater trochanter bursitis
- Golfer’s elbow
- Tennis elbow
- Lower / upper back pain
- Pain from Scoliosis
- Carpal Tunnel syndrome
- Shoulder / R/C tendonitis
- TMJ
- Neck pain
What is Acoustic Wave Therapy?
Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) also known as Shockwave Therapy (SWT) is an application of shockwaves. Shockwaves are ressure waves generated acoustically.
An example of shock waves and their effects is a fighter jet plane breaking the sound barrier which generates an audible bang and can lead to the breakage of glass windows even in distant areas.
The application of a focused shock wave to specific tissues of the body (i.e. Muscles, tendons, ligaments, even bone) has specific effects as follows: Firstly, there is actual destruction of tissue such as adhesions between muscle, tendon and ligament fibers. Bone spurs or calcific deposits in tendons, ligaments and even blood vessels begin to break apart and dissolve.
This controlled tissue destruction leads to the second phase, which is a focused healing response as the body then begins to repair the treated area. This also creates the formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) which improves the circulation to the treated tissue. This leads to the third effect which is reduction of pain and improved range of motion.
Help Your Body Heal Itself!
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (externally applied) physically stimulates the body’s cells biologic response and healing mechanisms.
The response to the physical stimulus is cell dependent and leads to several biologic responses including:
- Reduction of inflammation and, as a result, pain
- Release of growth factors
- Activation of stem cells, platelets etc
- Increased blood flow
