What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive outpatient procedure that uses radial pressure waves to create acoustic pulses which reduce pain and promote healing in injured ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissues. Sometimes referred to as extracorporeal shockwave therapy or radial shockwave therapy, it can be an effective alternative to surgery for many chronic conditions.
How Shockwave Therapy Works
Shockwave therapy is delivered through targeted contact with a hand-held device that allows acoustic waves to radiate up to two inches below your skin’s surface. When these waves reach your injured tissues, they cause microscopic damage. This microtrauma triggers an acute inflammatory response–your body’s instinctive physiological reaction to begin repairing itself. This promotes new cell growth, collagen production, and improved circulation. In addition to injury repair, shockwave treatment impulses break up calcification that may have built up around an injury and desensitize nerve endings to provide relief from pain.
SportsCare & Armworks Physical and Hand Therapy use extracorporeal shockwave therapy to treat a variety of ligament, tendon, and soft tissue injuries. These conditions include, but are not limited to:
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy is unique in its ability to target specific, isolated injuries and pain sites that may otherwise be hard to treat. It stimulates the body’s natural healing process to repair itself. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy provides:
Shockwave Therapy Treatment
During your first appointment at SportsCare & Armworks Physical and Hand Therapy, you will first have a thorough, professional evaluation with your physical therapist. Together you will discuss your injury/condition, questions/concerns, and goals in rehabilitation. Your physical therapist may recommend incorporating extracorporeal shockwave therapy into your treatment plan. Using this method, you can expect:
First used as a method to break up kidney and gallbladder stones
in the 1960’s, Shockwave Therapy expanded into orthopedics in
the 1990’s as an effective way to treat tendon pain.
Shockwave Therapy is offered here:
Frequently Asked Questions
Shockwave therapy is an extremely safe and effective treatment method for most patients, but not every patient is a good candidate. There are a few instances when patients should NOT use shockwave therapy including when: they are under the age of 18, are pregnant, have certain heart/nerve conditions or wear a pacemaker. Patients should also avoid shockwave therapy if they have an open wound/infection at the treatment site or have received a steroid injection within the last six weeks. Your physical therapist will review your medical history and discuss if you are an appropriate candidate for shockwave therapy.
Each shockwave treatment session lasts around 3-5 minutes. Shockwave therapy takes minimal setup time and will be incorporated into your normal physical therapy appointment length, that generally lasts between 45 minutes to 1 hour in total.
Usually, 4-6 treatments of shockwave therapy will produce significant results. Depending on the extent of your injury and/or if you have multiple soft tissue injury sites, specific treatment timelines may vary from person to person. Your physical therapist will continually monitor your improvement and adjust your treatment plan appropriately to ensure your optimal recovery.
This may vary from patient to patient. It may take 2-3 treatments before you are able to notice the benefits of shockwave therapy, while some patients feel immediate relief after their first treatment session. It is also common to notice benefits that may only be temporary at the beginning, but that become longer lasting after a few treatments.
No special preparation is needed for shockwave therapy, but patients should wear comfortable clothing that allows your physical therapist to access the area being treated.
If you bruise easily or are on blood thinners, notify your therapist so adjustments in pressure can be made. It is also important to let your physical therapist know if you have had any changes in your medical history since your last physical therapy appointment.
Here is a list of the insurance plans accepted by SportsCare & Armworks Physical and Hand Therapy. If you are unsure of your coverage or if your plan is accepted, please contact one of our offices. We are happy to assist you in learning about your benefits.
SportsCare & Armworks Physical and Hand Therapy have convenient locations in Gresham, NE Portland, Clackamas, Beaverton, Tigard, and Sandy. Location specific contact information can be found here: View Locations