Am I a Candidate for Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). Others also refer to it as extracorporeal pulse activation treatment (EPAT). It is a treatment that deals with acute and chronic pain. This FDA-approved treatment involves the use of a device that delivers pressure waves to stimulate blood flow and reduce scar tissue. This helps speed up the healing process, eliminate or reduce pain, and restore function.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy works for many treatable conditions as a non-invasive solution for treating and healing pain and is steadily increasing in use in the United States. And for a variety of good reasons.

Chronic pain as a result of injury or illness is one of the most difficult conditions for so many people to live with on a daily basis. It affects every aspect of a person’s day-to-day life and is also incredibly taxing on mental health and wellbeing.

Data from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimates that more than 20 percent of adults in the United States struggle with chronic pain.

All too often, people think their only option is to take pain medication, undergo a costly, and sometimes traumatic surgical procedure, or just grin and bear the pain as they try to get on with their daily duties and responsibilities.

Effective Treatment Option

Shockwave therapy has proven to be a safe and non-invasive treatment option. The therapy offers benefits that include pain relief and restoring function. It is effective for treating plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, heel spurs, tennis elbow, and more.

Research and clinical trials have produced evidence proving the effectiveness of the therapy. The doctor conducts the treatment in a few office visits. It does not involve incisions or anesthesia, and patients often experience pain relief immediately after treatment. The best thing about it is the results are long-lasting.

Studies show that ESWT Shockwave treatments deliver a 91 percent success rate, and more than 80 percent of patients report satisfaction with a faster and easier healing process.

How Shockwave Therapy Works

The doctor uses a special handheld device to deliver energy through the patient’s skin to the injured area. The shockwaves or acoustic energy is mechanical, not electric. The low-energy, audible sound waves help increase blood flow through the body to the injured area.

Shockwave therapy functions in two ways to deal with pain. First, nerve endings are desensitized, producing an instant reduction in pain. Secondly, the shockwaves produce controlled micro-trauma or damage to the tissues. This encourages the body to respond by increasing blood circulation.

Candidates for Shockwave Therapy

A specialist will help determine if shockwave therapy is right for you. However, the ideal candidates are:

People who have suffered from chronic pain for months
People who have not experienced relief from other treatment options. These options include strengthening exercises, stretches, and orthotics
Athletes who need to get back to their sports

The therapy is designed for treating injuries issues that persist. If you need to speed up your healing process, you are a good candidate for the therapy.

Conditions Treated Using Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is used to treat several conditions:

It is effective for treating limb conditions such as calcific tendinopathy, tennis elbow, and golfer’s elbow
It treats greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Patella tendinopathy
Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Achilles tendinopathy
Plantar fasciitis
IT band injuries
Knee injuries
Shoulder injuries
Spine injuries
TMJ pain

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

There are several benefits of shockwave therapy. The benefits include its cost-effectiveness and the non-invasive solution for dealing with chronic pain. The treatment does not require the use of drugs or anesthesia, and it has limited side effects. Some people experience mild discomfort during the therapy, but this usually lasts about five to ten minutes.

For more on shockwave treatment, visit Garmone Chiropractic at our office in Depew, New York. You can call (716) 668-5400 today to schedule an appointment.