Shockwave Therapy: What You Need to Know

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive method of healing that sends sound waves through the tissues to address specific conditions and reduce both pain and inflammation. It works exceptionally well for all types of chronic pain, including that associated with plantar fasciitis, arthritis, and fibromyalgia.

How Shockwave Therapy Works

Shockwave therapy is done in the doctor's office. An ultrasound is performed to identify the area that is to be treated. A small wand is guided over the area, and the sound waves are directed towards the area where the pain is located. As the procedure is non-invasive, there is little to no recovery period so you can return to your normal activities within a few hours of the procedure.

The Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy offers a variety of benefits for many different conditions that are known to cause chronic pain. A few examples are:

• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Plantar fasciitis
• Tendonitis
• Bursitis
• Rotator Cuff Syndrome
• Tennis Elbow
• Golf Elbow
• Any chronic joint pain associated with past injuries or excessive wear and tear.

The sound waves work by breaking up inflammation and increasing the amount of circulation to the area. This helps to rejuvenate the tissues and create a healing response that allows the body to begin to repair itself.

Types of Shockwave Therapy
There are mainly two types of shockwave machines.

• High-energy treatments – They are done in the operating room and require general or regional anesthesia
• Low-energy treatments – They are done in the clinic and require no anesthesia or injections.

What to Expect During Shockwave Therapy

First, the treatment site or sites are identified. Then a thin coat of coupling gel is applied which helps in translating the acoustic sound waves that are generated by the therapy. The treatment starts at a low output setting and gradually increased depending on the type or depth of tissue that is being treated. You may experience some ache or discomfort during the treatment. The clinician will adjust the output level of the device to an appropriate level if it becomes uncomfortable. After the treatment, the gel is removed, and you can easily return to your normal routine. You may notice reddened skin or minor soreness around the treatment site.

How Long Does Shockwave Therapy Take?

The entire procedure only takes 18-20 minutes to complete. A second treatment may be needed to maintain the procedure's healing effects. Normally, 1-2 treatments are performed per week. A total of 3-5 treatments need to be performed for improved results. In the case of acute pain, a single session may be successful.

Why Choose Us for Shockwave Therapy?

If you experience chronic pain and other treatment methods haven't worked, call our office today for a consultation to find out how shockwave therapy can help you. Dr. Berry, one of the trusted chiropractors in Tustin, will provide the treatment best suited to your condition.

Our goal is to provide you with an effective chiropractic treatment - a safe alternative to surgery and make you as comfortable as possible throughout the entire healing process. Call and schedule your appointment today, so you have the information you need to make an informed decision.

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How Shockwave Therapy Relieves Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is a chronic ailment of the heel. It’s a medical condition where the ligament, that connects your heel bone to your toes, tears. This ligament provides support to the arch of your foot. If it gets hurt, swollen, or if it develops inflammation, then you get a defective walk or unhealthy walking patterns.

Nowadays, patients suffering from this chronic disorder can benefit greatly from shockwave therapy. The treatment is actually known as radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).

It has emerged as an excellent alternative to surgery and is popular because of two reasons:
1. Anesthesia is not required.
2. It does not take too long to recover.

How Shock Therapy Works to Relieve Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

When the connecting ligament in the foot is affected, injured, or torn, the blood supply to the foot is reduced. This results in inflammation, pain, and swelling in the foot. Shockwave therapy helps to stimulate the microtrauma in the affected tissues that triggers a healing response in the body. Ultimately, the blood vessels are repaired/formed inducing better blood flow to the affected foot ligament.

According to several research conducted over the feasibility of ESWT, it has been found that people who underwent this treatment have little problems. It has always been a matter of debate whether ESWT is an effective and reliable substitute of surgery.

There are several pros and cons of this treatment.
Pros:
• It is a non-invasive option
• Very few complications compared to surgical procedure post treatment
• It is less painful

Cons:
• It is quite expensive
• It is done in phases and for every phase you have to pay for it.
• A few people reported to have suffered not-so-major post treatment side effects such as reddening of skin, swelling of foot, slight pain etc.

To prove the effectiveness of ESWT, researchers chose 246 patients in the US for this treatment. These patients were not given local anesthesia or pain meditation during the treatment. After a 12 week follow up consultations it showed significant reduction in the pain levels. There were no safety issues with ESWT but some patients reported swelling and pain after the treatment. Researchers concluded that shockwave therapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis has success rate between 50 and 65%.

Shockwave therapy could be a feasible option for plantar fasciitis. However the patients must be diagnosed beforehand to ensure the success of the treatment. A prior consultation with a doctor is highly recommended.

Active Chiropractic and Laser Center is based in Tustin, California. We are one of the most reputed and renowned clinics for bone related issues. We treat plantar fasciitis patients with class IV K laser therapy which is considered very effective. We are one of the best in the business and provide excellent diagnosis and counseling to each of our patients.

For more information about this treatment, Please schedule an appointment or  you can call us at: (714) 639- 4640.

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