What is Pressure Wave Therapy
As research into regenerative medicine continues, experts find new ways to promote healing. One of these cutting-edge technologies is Pressure Wave Therapy.
Pressure Wave Therapy is known by many different names:
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EPAT Therapy
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Shockwave Treatment
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Extracorporeal Shockwave Technology (ESWT)
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Acoustic Wave Therapy
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Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPW)
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Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSW)
Some of the names vary because of the frequency used. But it doesn’t matter what name you use; the principle is the same.
Pressure wave technology accelerates the healing process in the body by stimulating the metabolism and enhancing blood circulation to regenerate damaged tissue.
Strong energy pulses are applied to the affected area. These pulses create micro-cavitation bubbles that expand and burst. The force created by these bubbles penetrates tissue and stimulates cells responsible for bone and connective tissue healing.
To make it simple: pressure wave therapy is a non-invasive solution that stimulates new cell growth. These new, healthy cells replace old, weak, or damaged cells.
Doctors first used this therapy in the 1990s to treat kidney stones. They observed that the treatment seemed to accelerate healing, which led to research into other medical applications.
Numerous studies prove that pressure wave therapy is an effective means of eliminating chronic pain without surgery. Pressure wave therapy is one of the most advanced and highly effective non-invasive methods cleared by the FDA.
Beneficial effects are often experienced after only 1 or 2 treatments, and there is no downtime between treatments.
Pressure Wave Therapy indications
PWT can be used to treat a wide variety of conditions where there’s tissue damage.
Conditions that can be treated by pressure wave therapy include:
Shoulder pain
Acute injury, calcification, or chronic inflammation may cause shoulder pain and limited function. Most patients experience a significant improvement within four treatments.
Insertional Achilles tendonitis
Inflammation of the Achilles tendon tends to occur due to calcification or a bone spur. PWT can help speed healing in this area, which leads to a reduction in pain.
Hip pain
Muscles and tendons in the hips often suffer from overuse. PWT reduces inflammation, speeds healing and eliminates pain.
Rotator cuff calcification
This condition causes pain and a reduced range of motion of the shoulder. PWT breaks up calcium deposits for quick, lasting relief of symptoms.
Jumper’s knee
Patients who have this difficult-to-treat condition typically feel pain relief immediately following the first treatment.
Medial tibial stress syndrome
Repetitive stress to the shin area often causes pain and inflammation. PWT gets you back on your feet twice as quickly as traditional RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) treatment.
Tennis Elbow and Golfer’s Elbow
Traditional treatments include steroid injections and pain medications. Neither offers a permanent solution. PWT provides permanent pain relief in only a few sessions.
Chronic tendinopathy
Overuse and injury may cause chronic inflammation of the tendon. Patients usually experience symptom relief within three to five treatments.
Plantar Fasciitis
When the plantar fascia becomes inflamed or injured, patients get heel pain. PWT relaxes the plantar fascia, promoting healing and alleviating pain.
Bone spurs
Calcium deposits on the heel bone may cause a growth known as a spur to develop. PWT breaks up calcification to relieve pain and return functionality.
Pain that can be treated with pressure wave therapy:
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Knee pain
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Heel pain
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Foot pain
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Ankle pain
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Hamstring pain
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Back pain
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Neck pain
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Shoulder pain
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Elbow pain
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Wrist pain
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Hand pain
If you suffer from chronic pain, there’s a good chance that PWT can offer you some relief.
Benefits of pressure wave therapy
These benefits include:
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It’s a non-surgical, non-invasive procedure.
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It has no side effects.
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Promotes accelerated healing
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No anesthesia required
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No risk of infection
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No scarring
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No downtime after treatments
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Cost-effective
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You don’t have to suffer painful injections