Shockwave Therapy For Pain Relief

By William A. Cox, DC

A new, effective and exciting therapy called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is now available, which adds to the existing toolbox of therapeutic modalities to treat bothersome complaints.

What Is ESWT?

Originally developed to dissolve kidney stones, ESWT is a soft tissue treatment that delivers high energy shockwaves deep into the injured tissue. These high-energy waves have been shown to stimulate healing in soft tissues and to trigger the creation of new blood vessels thus increasing circulation.

ESWT works so well to promote healing and circulation that it is also utilized by urologists to treat erectile dysfunction and by estheticians to reduce cellulite.

What Is the Treatment Like?

Each treatment only lasts a few minutes as the device is applied to the areas being treated. When administered, a tiny projectile is shot back and forth at a high rate of speed inside a handheld applicator, creating shockwaves that penetrate deep into the tissue. There can be some discomfort involved in treating inflamed tissue but ESWT can be adjusted to an individual’s pain tolerance.

After a prescribed number of waves has been delivered by the physician, the patient is then instructed to follow up for subsequent treatment in one week. A typical ESWT protocol consists of up to five treatments.

Simply put, the ESWT brings attention to the chronically injured area by making the body “think” it has a new injury. Because of this, the patient is instructed to rest the body part for a day and to allow the body’s healing process to work.

What Conditions Are Treated With ESWT?