Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
(aka Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT)
Has pain sidelined you from what you love in life? If yes, we offer an incredibly effective solution to address your discomfort. Also known as shockwave therapy, Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a cutting-edge, non-invasive medical treatment that utilizes high-frequency sound waves to stimulate healing within the body. With its growing popularity, AWT or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) emerged as an effective solution for treating various musculoskeletal conditions, including plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and Achilles tendinitis.
How Does It Work?
During an AWT session, a device emits high-energy acoustic waves in a focused pattern directly to the affected area. These waves penetrate the skin and tissue, creating microtrauma. This microtrauma triggers the body’s natural healing processes, leading to increased blood flow, reduced inflammation, and tissue regeneration. Typically, the therapy is administered one to two times per week for three to six weeks.
Conditions That Can Be Addressed
Plantar Fasciitis: A condition characterized by plantar fascia inflammation, causing heel pain and stiffness.
Bursitis: An inflammation of the bursa, a small fluid-filled sac that cushions between bones and tendons or muscles near joints. It can cause pain, swelling, warmth and redness around the joint.
Osteoarthritis: A degenerative joint disease caused by the breakdown of cartilage and bone in the joints.
Achilles Tendinitis: An ailment resulting in pain and swelling in the Achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles to the heel bone.
Shoulder Tendinitis: Inflammation and pain in the tendons of the shoulder joint.
Patellar Tendinitis: Discomfort and inflammation in the patellar tendon, connecting the kneecap to the shinbone.
What Is the Treatment Process Like?
The AWT process begins with holding a noninvasive transmitter to the skin. An electrical charge generates an energy wave targeted at the painful area. These shockwaves exert a force on the tissues, facilitating quick healing. The entire process is relatively fast, taking only about 15 minutes per painful or injured area. Mild discomfort can be experienced during the session but resolves quickly with minimal soreness following treatment.
Will Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Work for Me?
While outcomes can vary from person to person, studies and results from chiropractic clinics suggest that up to 90% or more of patients may experience long-lasting pain relief with AWT.
Each individual’s care plan will depend on several factors, but three to five sessions (one per week) are typically recommended.
Chronic conditions may require additional visits for optimal results.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Shockwave Therapy work?
The targeted micro trauma of shock waves have 6 specific effects: new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis), reversal of chronic inflammation, stimulation of collagen production, breaking up calcifications, dispersion of pain mediator “Substance P” and the release of trigger points. In other words it: improves blood flow, breaks up scar tissue/calcifications, encourages new cell formation, decreases pain, muscle spasm and inflammation.
What conditions can Shockwave Therapy treat?
Any fascial problem, in the literature the most responsive conditions are: plantar fasciitis, chronic rotator cuff tendinopathy/shoulder calcific bursitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Achilles issues, and hip bursitis. In addition, at our office, we have seen chronic SI and herniated disc problems respond well as well as chondromalacia patella and post knee replacement
While shockwave therapy can be uncomfortable it is no worse than a deep tissue massage and we can vary the intensity to make it more tolerable.
Are there any side effects of Shockwave Therapy?
Soreness is most common, redness and mild edema are less common, all of which quickly dissipate. Due to its action on Substance P (SP) many notice reduced pain immediately following treatment.
How long does a Shockwave Therapy session last?
Initial session 30m, future sessions 10-15m.
How many Shockwave Therapy sessions are typically needed for results?
In the literature most studies are 3-5 visits, we find 6 visits work well as patients like to have 1-2 follow-up visits or if the problem is especially chronic.
Is Shockwave Therapy covered by insurance?
No, insurance does not cover shockwave therapy but it is FSA eligible.
What is the difference between focused and radial Shockwave Therapy?
Radial shockwave is a soft and dispersive wave often used to treat musculoskeletal problems. Focused shockwave is much harder and invasive, it is what is used for lithotripsy to treat kidney stones. We use radial shockwave.
Who can benefit from Shockwave Therapy?
People who are experiencing chronic and stubborn musculoskeletal problems that have been unresponsive to other conventional or conservative methods who want fast pain relief and to restore mobility such as plantar fasciitis and rotator cuff issues.
Put Pain in Your Past
If you’re ready to take the first step towards long-lasting pain relief, contact Triskelia Wellness to schedule an appointment today. We are offering an initial AWT session for only $49!
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