What is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a physiotherapy modality of choice for the treatments of acute or chronic musculoskeletal disorders or injuries. Therapy or Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a non-surgical treatment option for musculoskeletal pain and injuries that last about 5-7 minutes on the average. The effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is undeniable. Numerous published articles in reputable journals have endorsed shockwave therapy for musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Before getting too in-depth, let’s take a closer at the term “Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.”
The first term, Extracorporeal, is derived from extra and corpus, meaning body. So, the definition of extracorporeal is one that relates to outside the body. Now let’s see the description of “Shockwave.” According to Merriam Webster dictionary, Shockwave is a compressional wave of high amplitude caused by a shock to a medium through which the waves (shockwaves) travels. Physics provides a better definition. In science, shockwave therapy propagates disturbances. In other words, extracorporeal shockwave therapy initiates a propagating disturbance. Let’s dive in a little deeper through an example.
When you strike the surface of a solid object with a blow, there will be some level of deformation on that surface. The immediate response at the surface is compression at the struck site. Once compressed, the object will transmit that disturbance to the deeper layers beneath the surface. Soon after that, the surface relaxes, and the initiated compression propagates throughout the object struck by the blow. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, reproducing is the process that spreads out, affecting more significant areas. To conclude, extracorporeal shockwave therapy (SW Therapy or ESWT) is a therapeutic procedure that uses pressure waves from outside the body to deliver high-energy sound waves (shockwaves) to body tissue for faster healing.
What Are The Different Types Of Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment (ESWT, SWT & SW Therapy)?
Generally speaking, there are two main types of shockwave used in medical treatments: Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy: This type of shockwave also referred to as Non-Focused shockwave, Radial Shockwave, or Dispersive Shockwave. These are the devices commonly known to deliver “Soft Shockwaves.”
Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy: Shockwave treatments provided in lithotripsy are referred to as Focused or Hard Shockwave. They have a more in-depth penetration, using 10-2000 times higher levels of energy.
What Are Some Of The Benefits Of ESWT?
There are numerous benefits to Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT). To help you understand them better, we have listed them with a brief description below:
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Eliminates Pain Faster
Eliminating pain with extracorporeal shockwave therapy is done through targeting of root-causes and reduction of muscular spasms. We will address the impact of ESWT (Shockwave Therapy) on tissues in the subsequent paragraphs. But, in this paragraph, we want to concentrate on Substance P. Substance P is a neuropeptide that acts as a neuromodulator and neurotransmitter. The neuro-modulating and neuro-transmitting capabilities of Substance P induce inflammatory effects in musculoskeletal systems that stimulate the pain-sensing nerve fibers. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy can reduce substance P concentration in tissue. And as such, ESWT has a much better pain lowering effects that other forms of modalities. Best of all, you get pain reduction and edema reduction without drugs or injections.
EWST Accelerates Healing Of An Injured & Malfunctional Tissue
Simply put, for tissue to heal, it needs collagen. Researchers have well documented the rise in ground substances such as Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulfates with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). The increase in production of these ground substances is the precursors for the healing of muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Additional factors that lead to faster healing is increased oxygenation and metabolism that are made possible through an increase in microcirculation within the damaged tissue. Also, extracorporeal shockwave therapy removes lactic acid and other irritating agents such as histamine.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Treatments Can Improve Joint Mobility
Injured tissues such as ligaments and tendons often calcify and become a constant source of pain and reduced flexibility and motion. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is the best therapeutic modality for treatments of calcific deposits around joints that forms arthrosis (osteoarthritis). In short, it can widen joint spaces that allow for better joint motion and flexibility.
What Is The Difference Between Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) & Ultrasound Therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy and ultrasound therapy are similar as they both use sound waves. But, there are differences between them. For one thing, shockwave therapy uses higher-pressure amplitude. Also, Shockwave uses individual pulses while ultrasound therapy utilizes an oscillating form of sound energy. In our Kuala Lumpur center, we utilize shockwave and ultrasound therapy for patients with soft tissue and musculoskeletal disorders. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is more expensive but requires fewer therapy sessions. Also, shockwave therapy breaks down tissue calcification better in comparison to ultrasound therapy.
What Are The Side Effects Of ESWT?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a safe non-invasive procedure rendered on an outpatient basis. The treatment usually takes about 5 minutes. The expected total time that including the pre- and post-therapy activities and preparations should be about 15 minutes. Patients that opt for shockwave therapy can expect some irritation of the area treated. There may be some redness and inflammation. Some discomfort during treatment is expected. However, the therapy as we provide in our center should never be painful.
So, you shouldn’t feel pain during the therapy. But, two to three hours post-therapy there may be some discomfort. Therefore, we encourage all patients that receive shockwave therapy from our center to rest and avoid physical activity on the day of treatment.
Are ESWT Treatments For Joints & Injuries Well Researched?
The quick answer to this question is a definite Yes! Researchers have reported significant clinical improvements in patients that suffered from shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain, hip pain, knee pain, ankle pain, leg pain, neck pain, back pain, and plantar fasciitis. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is fast becoming the therapeutic procedure of choice for many therapists and doctors that treat patients with acute or chronic tendonitis or tendinopathy that fails to improve with other forms of physiotherapeutic procedures. Also, we have found this modality to be of significant help for those with tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, and Achilles tendonitis. In short, if you have a spine, joint or sports injury that prevents you from living a healthy active life, visit one of our centers today.
Published studies from the United States of America have reported a 92% success rate in treatments of plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. Of course, in our center, we have a higher expectation as we combine the benefits of extracorporeal shockwave therapy with clinical physiotherapy and chiropractic. Therefore, our expectation to successfully resolve plantar fasciitis is near 100%. Key to successful outcomes is our integrative methods of treatment and of course our advanced spine and joint technology. Let us help you today
Is ESWT Painful?
We honestly believe that you don’t have to go through more pain to get better. Yes, extracorporeal shockwave therapy in some centers can hurt, but not in ours. As mentioned earlier, shockwave therapy delivers
Generally speaking, ESWT should not be painful. However, patients with an acute condition may experience some discomfort. The motto in our center is “No Pain, More Gain!” We stand by this motto even when it comes to extracorporeal shockwave therapy treatments. ESWT, much like other therapeutic devices has an intensity controller. The more intense the bursts of energy are, the more discomfort or pain you might feel. So, our programs for shockwave therapy are always started on light settings. As you progress and your pain subsides, we increase the intensity of energy. In this manner, we avoid unnecessary pain or suffering.
Which Injuries Or Conditions Respond Best To Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy?
All sports and Musculoskeletal conditions respond well to shockwave treatment (ESWT). If you are looking for a single treatment option, look no further than the Shockwave treatment offered at Chiropractic Specialty Center®. We have had great clinical successes in patients with heel spurs, tennis elbow, golfer elbow, slipped disc, neck pain, hip pain, plantar fasciitis (heel spur), and much more. if you are in pain, call us NOW!
Our physical therapists (physiotherapists) are the best in town. The care you get from them is even better as it is enhanced with expert treatment from our clinical chiropractors. And best of all, we couple all our physical therapy and chiropractic treatments with care through advanced therapeutic devices. In short, we have the skills, knowledge and advanced spine and joint technology to provide you with the best of conservative treatment for pain or sports injuries. No doubt about it, we are the best of the best! You don’t have to take our word for it, experience it for yourself.
If you are looking to cure joint pain or recover fast from a sports injury; consider extracorporeal shockwave therapy at our center. To familiarize you with ESWT, we have provided a shockwave treatment video for the elbow below.
How Often Is ESWT Given To the Spine, Joint & Sports Injuries?
For most of our musculoskeletal patients, we recommend a therapy program of once per week for 3-5 weeks. Extracorporeal shockwave therapyis excellent, but the collaborative care we combine with shockwave is better. In short, we will get you better faster, and the improvements you achieve through us, lasts longer. Call us today to experience clinical excellence backed by breakthrough technology. We are the best chiropractic and physiotherapy treatment center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Research-based Clinical Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Enhanced With Breakthrough Technology
Our centers are the premier non-surgical centers that treat musculoskeletal disorders without medications, injections or surgery. We have even helped those that had failed spine or joint surgical interventions. The foundations of our successes are based on our research-based methods of care: we have the best clinical teams of chiropractors, advanced physiotherapists, and our advanced breakthrough methods of spine care. ESWT is the latest breakthrough technology that we use in our center.
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) was first used in 1980 to break up kidney stones. The first published research on the use of shockwave therapy was by Dr. Loew and Dr. Jurgowski in 1993 to treat calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuffs. With their proven results as outlined in their published research in breaking up of the calcification, the therapy gained significant attention and favor. Caminoto et al. provided another eye-opening research in 2005. This research provided the detailed information on how shockwave therapy facilitates the healing process in 10 horses treated three times at three-week intervals.
In 2007, published research reported a significant increase in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and protein syntheses. The hallmark of this study in our opinion is the fact that the rise in glycosaminoglycan and protein syntheses was noted three hours after the first treatment. This research proved the immediate benefits of shockwave therapy. Furthermore, it illustrated the importance of the extracorporeal shockwave therapy’s ability to accelerate the onset of healing.
Get the Best Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy Treatment At Chiropractic Specialty Center®
These are just a few examples of why we decided to offer our spine, joint, and sports injury patients the benefits of shockwave therapy. Our goals are to provide our patients with the best of the non-surgical spine and joint care. Our research-based clinical non-surgical methods have helped thousands of patients. Please call our Chiropractic and Physiotherapy center at 03 2093 1000 today and ask us about Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).