Science-Backed Results
Shockwave therapy, referred to as ESWT (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy) isn't just another fad treatment that fails to provide concrete results. Research has confirmed the method's effectiveness. By opting for PiezoWave 2 shockwave therapy at Pace West PT, our goal is to ensure that you are getting a well established therapy at a reasonable cost.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a treatment method that uses targeted high-energy pressure waves to eliminate pain and improve mobility. These acoustic waves travel to the injured, painful tissues, that we have targeted for repair.
These shock waves manipulate the targeted tissues by accelerating cell growth and repair. In doing so, the treatment can have several effects, including:
- New Blood Vessel Formation
- Release Of Pain And Trigger Points
- Reversal Of Chronic Inflammation
- Restorative Collagen Production
- Stimulate Local Stem Cell Production
These effects work together to repair tendons and other soft tissues that are subject to acute and chronic pain, without the need for painkillers, injections or surgery.
Shockwave Therapy is a relatively new technology in the United States but has been used in Europe for many years.
Shockwave Therapy Helps Us Help You
Assuming that the primary issue arises at the site of pain is a common mistake. Conventional pain treatments are often ineffective and fail when they focus on treating the symptom location rather than treating the underlying cause.
Shockwave Therapy moves away from that common misconception and helps to locate the actual source of the problem. By directing the acoustic waves at the injured tissue, we are able to reproduce the referred pain (a pain that is portrayed to be in a different location than the injury) and can therefore use the Shockwaves to determine exactly where the injury is located.
Through the application of focused energy, the inflammatory and repair responses of the body are naturally activated. Responding to this physical stress, the cells release their own healing agents, which leads to the body repairing and eventually healing itself.
Understanding A Shockwave Therapy Treatment
Treatment starts by applying a small amount of coupling gel to help conduct the waves through your skin/superficial tissue layers and into the deeper targeted area. The beginning of the treatment will start at a lower output setting, and the provider will slowly increase the intensity of the waves to the appropriate level to best suit your condition.
Shockwave therapy also requires very little time to complete and can be worked into any busy schedule. Generally, only 3 to 6 sessions are needed. Sessions usually last only 15 to 20 minutes (though longer periods may be needed for long-standing chronic injuries or treating multiple locations).
The length of the treatment is actually determined by the number of pulses needed to treat the area. In one treatment session, about 1,500 to 2,000 pulse waves are sent into the targeted tissue.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Feel?
Invasive treatments like surgery lead to significant postoperative pain. But with shockwave therapy, you won't spend weeks or months recovering from your treatment. An effective shockwave therapy treatment is not pain-free, but the temporary sensation represents successfully targeting the affected tissue (Shockwave to healthy tissue is pain-free) that needs to heal.
Common Treatment Areas
Post-Treatment Care
We will encourage you to follow our recommendations which will facilitate more long lasting relief. These may include exercise, moist heat and activity modification. When patients participate in their recovery we have seen more rapid results and long term benefit. There is a success rate of 65% to 95% reported by a vast majority of studies.
What Are The Side Effects Of Shockwave Therapy?
The most prevalent side effect that patients report is some mild discomfort that could last for several hours after your initial session. Slight bruising, swelling, or numbness has also been reported. However, depending on your health, many patients suffer no side effects at all.
Is Shockwave Therapy Affordable?
Another great benefit of shockwave therapy is its affordability. Alternative treatments like injections or surgeries are not only extremely expensive, but also invasive. With Shockwave therapy you receive a noninvasive treatment that actually helps your body heal without emptying your bank account.
