One of the great new developments in the last decade that we have implemented in our practice is the use of Shockwave or extra-corporeal compression wave therapy. There’s a new variant which is mostly just by branding called Soft-wave, which is the same type of technology just with a new name to make it sound less scary.
However, it is not a scary treatment since it is all mechanical in nature with no electrical current or anything entering the body besides vibration. No shocking involved.
It works by generating a wave of energy that is created utilizing sound/acoustic waves inside the machine which travels down through the applicator head and enter into the soft tissues of the body. There are different variations of how to create this acoustic wave. Some use air from pneumatic pump system and some use water/hydraulic to send the energy into the body.
When this wave of energy hits any damaged tissues, it vibrates them, causing microscopic irritation. This microscopic irritation in turn signals the body to go into repair mode by triggering cell membranes, opening ion channels, and helps wake up repair genes that are sitting dormant. Also, this action increases localized blood flow and draws your body’s own stem cells in the tissue to heal it.
Stem cells can help speed up repair to the damaged tissue and allow them heal faster.
This new treatment helps with a variety of different types of stubborn, chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis, hip bursitis, Achilles tendinopathy, calcified tendons (particularly in the shoulder) and Palmer contractures of the hand of which many cases traditionally require surgery.
This has allowed us to help people naturally prevent or delay going down the road of injections and surgery.
We found it to be another wonderful tool to help people to heal, especially combined with other natural therapies to get your health back on track.
Just another way we try to help our Lexington and surrounding community.
Dr. Philip A. Mahan, D.C., C.C.E.P.