Millions of people live with long-term pain that impairs their functioning and quality of life. Injuries, aging, illnesses, and other conditions can result in pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. This daily discomfort can chip away at a person’s sleep, emotional health, ability to work, cognitive functioning, and more.
Living with chronic pain can affect how people think, feel, and function in many areas of their life. While many people simply accept lingering pain as part of their new “normal,” it doesn’t have to be this way. Comprehensive treatment and a holistic approach to pain management can help people address the roots of their pain instead of relying on medications to hide it.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a holistic therapy that supports the body’s natural healing. It is non-invasive, has very little downtime, and does not cause significant side effects. This gentle therapy uses focused shockwaves or radial pressure waves to stimulate tissue repair and boost the body’s ability to rebuild healthy tissue in damaged areas.
Many people feel the benefits of this non-invasive therapy after just a few sessions. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can help people regain flexibility and function while decreasing pain. Learn more about ESWT by contacting the specialists at The Hartman Center Now. Explore our holistic treatment programs and therapies, or schedule an intake appointment by reaching out today.
What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a holistic treatment that uses gentle shockwaves to encourage the body to heal more effectively. This therapy was first developed as a method of breaking up kidney stones. Over the last 40 years, medical practitioners have discovered a range of other uses for ESWT, including promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation throughout the body.
During sessions, a practitioner uses a wand or gun to direct the shockwaves to areas of the body affected by inflammation, tissue damage, or injuries. The gentle shockwaves encourage the body to increase blood flow to the area. It enables the body to focus its healing potential on areas that need it, including injuries or areas with increased inflammation. It can also break up or loosen stiff tissue and decrease the sensation of pain. People who undergo ESWT typically experience reduced stiffness or pain, greater flexibility, and faster healing.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can lead to lasting relief from pain, stiffness, and limited mobility. It is often an excellent option for people who have tried medications or other pain-relieving therapies without success.
Because ESWT is a non-invasive therapy, sessions are generally comfortable, and people do not typically experience significant side effects. The ease of extracorporeal shockwave therapy, combined with its effectiveness, makes it an appealing option for many people. In many cases, people who receive ESWT can delay or forgo more invasive treatment approaches, including steroids or surgical procedures.
What Conditions Does Shockwave Therapy Treat?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses focused sound waves to deliver energy to damaged bones, fascia, ligaments, and other tissues. Although this therapy is called “shockwave therapy,” it does not utilize electrical shocks and is not painful or uncomfortable. Instead, gentle acoustic pulses penetrate deeply into the tissue, encouraging blood flow and breaking up stiff scar tissue.
Over time, ESWT can allow the body to replace damaged or inflamed tissue with new, healthy tissue and blood vessels. The result is more durable, flexible tissue, as well as reduced pain and stiffness.
Because ESWT is a non-invasive and effective therapy, it has broad applications. Here are some of the most common conditions shockwave therapy can treat.
Foot and knee injuries
Foot and knee pain can reduce mobility, keeping people from living the full lives they deserve. Achilles tendinopathy, heel spurs, runner’s knee, plantar fasciitis, and other conditions can make walking or other forms of movement very uncomfortable. In the past, people with ongoing foot or knee pain had only a few options to address the pain: to take pain relievers, accept limited mobility, or undergo invasive surgical procedures.
However, extracorporeal shockwave therapy offers a gentle and effective alternative to addressing pain in the knees, ankles, or feet. Using gentle, targeted shockwaves to the affected areas can help the body activate its healing ability, increasing blood flow and promoting new, healthy tissue growth.
Elbow and shoulder pain
The elbow and shoulder joints are prone to injuries. Overuse, repetitive sports, and other injuries can lead to long-lasting, life-disrupting pain in these joints. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can help these areas heal more effectively, promoting tissue regeneration and reducing inflammation.
Hip pain
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) is one of the most common forms of hip pain. This painful condition results from inflammation of the muscles and ligaments of the hip. It can cause sharp pain in the hips, buttocks, and legs. Recovery can be long and painful, and may require significantly limiting physical activity.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can help to facilitate faster healing. The gentle shockwaves stimulate blood flow to the hip’s muscles and tissues, reducing inflammation and improving flexibility in the area. People may experience significant reductions in pain, allowing them to participate in a rehab program more effectively.
Back pain
Millions of people experience back pain that limits their mobility, impacts functioning, and affects overall quality of life. Back pain may result from injury, excess weight, spinal issues, poor posture, overuse, and other factors.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy may be effective for reducing pain associated with muscle or tissue strain. The gentle, targeted shockwaves can encourage greater blood flow to the muscles and the formation of new blood vessels. This allows the body to regenerate tissue and reduce inflammation, potentially leading to a significant reduction in stiffness and pain.
Kidney stones
Medical professionals originally developed extracorporeal shockwave therapy to break up kidney stones. The gentle shockwaves break up the small clumps of calcified minerals, allowing the pieces to pass from the body in the urine. This procedure has been used for decades and is considered one of the safest ways to manage kidney stones.
TBI-related spasticity
Traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and stroke can cause physical and cognitive impairments. Some people with these conditions can experience changes in strength and fine motor control. These changes can impact mobility and coordination necessary for everyday activities, such as getting dressed, cooking, writing, and others.
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can reduce spasticity and help people regain control over their movements. It works by improving the function and tone of atrophied muscles and tendons. This can help people live more fully and comfortably after a brain injury or stroke.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a painful condition that can limit mobility and negatively impact daily functioning. While more research is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of ESWT for osteoarthritis, some studies suggest that this non-invasive approach may reduce inflammation and pain associated with the condition, especially in the knees.
If you or someone you love lives with pain, stiffness, or diminished mobility, treatment is available at The Hartman Center. Contact our specialists to learn about our holistic approach to pain management, or to explore any of our complementary therapies.
What Happens During Shockwave Therapy Treatment?
If your healthcare provider recommends shockwave therapy, you may typically begin treatment right away. Shockwave therapy sessions are generally short and comfortable. Knowing what to expect can help you feel confident during your first appointment.
Here is a quick overview of what to expect during shockwave therapy sessions.
Before treatment
Before your appointment, dress in comfortable clothing that allows access to the treatment area. Your practitioner will apply a special gel to the treatment area. This gel allows the waves to reach deeper into the tissue.
During treatment
During the treatment session, your practitioner will apply an applicator to the skin over the affected area. The applicator will be attached to a machine that will deliver a pattern of pulse waves.
Treatment sessions typically last 10-20 minutes. During this time, you may feel a pulsing or tapping sensation in the treatment area. This may feel strange or somewhat uncomfortable, but most people do not report experiencing pain during treatment.
After treatment
After your treatment session, you will likely be able to return to your normal activities right away. The treated area might feel sensitive, sore, or warm for a little while, but these sensations are usually minimal or manageable.
In some cases, your practitioner may advise you to refrain from strenuous physical activity after treatment sessions. You will receive detailed instructions about any necessary restrictions or aftercare considerations.
Some people report feeling greater flexibility or reduced pain after their first ESWT session. Typically, people may undergo ESWT sessions regularly over several weeks to experience the full benefits.
Find Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Now
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a gentle method that addresses the roots of pain and stiffness instead of just temporarily relieving symptoms. If you or someone you love could benefit from a non-invasive therapy for pain, reach out to The Hartman Center specialists to explore shockwave therapy or any of our holistic pain management therapies.