Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave Therapy in Wichita, KS
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy (SWT), also known as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), or acoustic wave therapy (AWT) is a new, powerful, innovative, and non-invasive treatment becoming widely used for musculoskeletal conditions.
Shockwave Therapy is the application of generating, then “pushing,” very specific, precise sound waves deep into the body to break apart restricted or tight tissue(s). It has emerged as an effective treatment option for a range of musculoskeletal conditions including chronic tendinopathies, non-union fractures, and myofascial pain syndromes.
There is a growing body of evidence, including studies published in respected journals such as the American Journal of Sports Medicine, British Journal of Pain, and Pain Medicine, in support of the efficacy of shockwave therapy in addressing pain, inflammation, and tissue healing.
What Are Shockwaves?
Shockwaves, or acoustic waves, are high energy sound waves which are geared towards breaking apart restricted tissue.
How Does Shockwave Therapy work?
Shockwave Therapy induces short bursts of high energy waves into the body. These short burst “break apart” tissue in order to restore function - and in so doing reduce pain.
Through this process of breaking apart tissue, blood supply and oxygen can be reintroduced into the previous restricted area. This allows the healing to finally take place, again, to improve function while reducing pain.
Five Key Ways Shockwave Therapy Helps
The following are five key ways that shockwave can help patients.
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1. Mechanical Stimulation of Cells
At a cellular level, shockwave therapy promotes the release of growth factors, such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β). These growth factors enhance tissue regeneration.
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2. Neovascularization (Angiogenesis)
When breaking apart tissue, the body naturally responds by increasing the formation of new blood vessels. By getting into deeper areas through non-invasive means, the improved circulation helps to accelerate the healing process by delivering oxygen and nutrients necessary to repair tissue(s).
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3. Pain Reduction
Shockwaves activate nerve fibers that block pain signals, leading to a reduction in perceived pain. This effect is often felt “in real time,” as early as the first session.
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4. Collagen Production
Shockwaves stimulate fibroblast cells, which are responsible for producing collagen, a critical protein for tissue repair.
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5. Breaking Down Calcifications
Shockwaves can break up calcified deposits in tendons or joints, reducing inflammation and enhancing mobility. This is very beneficial with certain diagnosis such as Frozen Shoulder.
These biological processes collectively work to reduce pain, speed up healing, and restore function to the treated area.
What Forms of Shockwave Therapy Are There?
There are two primary types of shockwave therapy:
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Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSWT)
Delivers highly focused energy to a precise point, targeting deeper tissues, such as bones, tendons, or ligaments.
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Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT)
Uses a broader, more superficial wave that spreads out to treat larger areas, ideal for treating muscles and more superficial tendinopathies.
While both types are effective, FSWT is commonly used for deeper musculoskeletal injuries, and RSWT is often employed for more generalized issues.
Shockwave Therapy Vs. Soft Wave Therapy – What Are the Differences?
Shockwave therapy and soft wave therapy are very similar; however, they are often thought of as different treatment approaches. This dichotomy is largely due to marketing, buzzwords, and lead generation.
Softwave Therapy and Shockwave Therapy are both branches, or “children,” of Acoustic Wave Therapy. Softwave Therapy uses lower energy levels, and a wider area of distribution compared to Shockwave Therapy. This is the primary difference between the two therapies.
As a result, Shockwave Therapy can produce greater results, especially when dealing with treatment of deeper tissue compared to Softwave Therapy. However, Softwave Therapy may be more comfortable when treating more superficial tissue.
Conditions Treated by Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy has been found to be effective in treating a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, including:
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Tendinopathies (e.g., Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, etc.)i
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Plantar Fasciitisii
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Calcific Shoulder Tendinitis
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Myofascial Pain Syndromeiii
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Trigger Points and Muscle Spasms
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Chronic Pain Conditions (e.g., fibromyalgia. Low back painiv)
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Bone Fractures and Non-Union Fracturesv
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
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Medial/Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis/Golfer's Elbow)
Over the last few years, we have also witnessed great results with breaking up lipomas (fatty masses), treating Sever’s disease, and lymphedema.
Shockwave Therapy Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Click on any question below to see our answers to common questions about shockwave therapy.
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How Long Is the Shockwave session?
For most situations, Shockwave Therapy lasts roughly 5 minutes or less.
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Can I Add on a “Shockwave Therapy Session” to a Normal Visit?
Yes, you can utilize the shockwave machine during a normal visit. Or shockwave therapy can be a stand-alone session.
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Is Shockwave Therapy Painful?
This depends on the area and situation. Typically, we take the intensity to the person’s pain tolerance. However, the general rule is, the more pain the faster the results. Ideally, we want to produce pain during a session. Again, it only lasts for a few minutes. The pain allows us to know we are getting deep enough to break apart the restricted, problematic tissue(s).
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What Makes Shockwave Therapy Unique?
Shockwave largely stands out as a primary treatment intervention in the fact it can target deep tissue in the body without being invasive through the use of needles or surgery.
We have clients who are timid with Dry Needling and really enjoy Shockwave Therapy as an alternative to get to pesky areas.
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Is Shockwave Therapy a Standalone Therapy?
This is a very tough question. Clinically, we have witnessed Shockwave Therapy work as a stand-alone therapy (i.e. applying no other services); however, we see it work best when paired with rehab exercises.
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Safety and Side Effects of Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave Therapy is generally considered safe when performed by a trained professional. Most patients will experience discomfort during treatment depending on the area being treated. A general rule of thumb with shockwave, the more pain a person can manage per session, the faster the outcomes. Now stating this, we only take the level of “intensity” to the capability of the person.
Side Effects Which May Occur
Side effects are typically transient (short-term) in nature. Clinically, we rarely witness any of these side effects listed.
- Mild Pain or Discomfort at the treatment site.
- Reddening skin as petechiae (tiny red spots).
- Bruising or Swelling may occur at the treatment site; however, this is typically rare.
- Numbness or Tingling may occur at the treatment site or refer; however, this is typically rare.
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Shockwave Therapy Contraindications
Some contraindications are case dependent on the area being treated and the degree of intensity being utilized by the machine.
- Pregnancy
- Recent post operation
- Osteoporosis
- Coagulation defects
- Bleeding tendencies
- Patient with pacemaker
- Neoplasm
- Lung area
- Spine
- Cortisone therapy up to 6 weeks before first treatment
- Mental disorder (unable to communicate consent)
Content Written by Dr. Keith Sparks, DC – Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College-Kansas City
Content Reviewed by Dr. Sam Reals, DC – Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College-Kansas City
View Citations and References
i B. S. Thomas et al., "Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic tendinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis," Br J Pain, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 249–257, 2015. PubMed Link
ii J. M. Rompe et al., "Efficacy of shock wave therapy for chronic plantar fasciitis: A randomized controlled trial," Am J Sports Med, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 1045–1052, 2004. PubMed Link
iii M. Gollwitzer et al., "Shock wave therapy in the treatment of myofascial pain syndrome: A prospective, randomized, controlled study," Pain Med, vol. 13, no. 4, pp. 590–597, 2012. PubMed Link
iv Song JH, et al. "Effectiveness of Shock Wave Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain." The Spine Journal. 2017;17(6):895-903. BMC Link
v S. V. Wang et al., "The effect of shock wave therapy on bone healing in patients with nonunion fractures: A prospective study," Clin Orthop Relat Res, vol. 397, pp. 147–154, 2002. PubMed Link
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If you are in the Wichita, KS, area and are having frustrations, complications, or stagnant results with care, then contact us for in-person help with our unique healthcare approaches. If you are not within the greater Wichita, KS metro, we have created amazing Telehealth and Video Programs to provide you the same high-quality care. Contact our professional chiropractic staff at our East Wichita clinic or West Wichita clinic about possible treatments for your muscle, joint, nutrition, and health-related concerns today.
