Modern medicine is continuously innovating, introducing new technologies to transform pain management and rehabilitation. Shockwave therapy is on the cutting edge of these approaches, thanks to its ability to deliver non-invasive pain relief. As an alternative to traditional treatment methods, it is a proven technique that offers advantages such as shorter treatment times, virtually no side effects, and the ability to treat conditions that have not responded satisfactorily to other approaches. How does this treatment, also called sound wave therapy, work, and how can it benefit you and your patients? Here is a look.
An Overview of Shockwave Therapy
Shockwave therapy, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), leverages the power of sound waves to stimulate healing within the body. Delivered to targeted areas of the body, these sound waves can positively impact chronic pain, musculoskeletal conditions, and certain bone injuries. The technology originally served as a way to break down kidney stones without surgery. Today, its therapeutic effects make it ideal for a wide variety of uses within the orthopedic and rehabilitation realms.
How Shockwave Therapy Works
The secret to shockwave therapy’s success lies in how it uses sound waves, also referred to as acoustic waves, to generate healing within the body. During a session, the provider uses a handheld device to deliver these sound waves directly to the affected area of the body. The acoustic waves transmit their energy through the tissues of the body, terminating at a depth that the provider chooses on the machine before treatment.
Once these waves terminate, they often create what are called shockwaves, which deliver force throughout the treatment area. The interaction of the waves and the body’s tissues trigger a cascade of responses within the body. These can include everything from improved blood flow to tissue regeneration and pain relief. Over a number of sessions, this therapy can, therefore, encourage the body to devote healing resources to areas of pain and dysfunction, triggering lasting pain relief and recovery.
Advantages of Shockwave Therapy
The reason sound wave therapy has become so widely embraced as a modern tool for pain relief and rehabilitation is because it is non-invasive. This technology has the ability to reach tissues deep within the body without requiring surgery. As a result, this approach makes healing accessible to individuals who might otherwise avoid invasive procedures. Here are some of the reasons that shockwave therapy’s non-invasive nature makes it better than many traditional approaches.
Painless
Sound wave therapy exists to alleviate pain, not exacerbate it. While there may be some discomfort during the actual treatment session, there is no genuine pain, during or after the application of the acoustic waves. As a result, patients can confidently pursue a solution to their dysfunction, without worrying about the experience itself.
Side-Effect Free
Shockwave therapy is not entirely without side effects, but its impacts tend to be very mild and short-lived. Virtually all patients either experience no side effects or minor issues such as temporary redness, swelling, or bruising. Thanks to the low risk of this approach, patients can usually return to their daily routine immediately after treatment.
Short Treatments
Patients do not want to block hours out of their day in order to receive treatment. With 5-10 minute treatment sessions, sound wave therapy can boost patient volume by addressing their pain without interrupting their daily life.
Effectiveness
Shockwave therapy has a success rate of up to 91 percent, depending upon the condition treated. That empowers providers like you to actually change patient lives without adding pain or inconvenience into their lives, and without taking up significant time in your already busy schedule.
Short Treatment Times: A Benefit For Clinics and Clients
The exceptionally short treatment times that come with shockwave therapy present a particularly beneficial opportunity for clinics and their clients. Here is a look at why the 5-10 minute treatments can make such a difference for your practice, and for the patients you serve.
Improved Patient Volume
Patients have a hard time scheduling long appointments in the midst of work and family obligations. With brief treatment sessions, sound wave therapy makes it possible for patients to fit treatment into their daily schedule. That can lead to more patients seeking out your clinic for treatment.
Improved Clinic ROI
Short treatment times also translate into more patients treated during the day. And that can boost the bottom line of your clinic while also supporting your desire to transform patient lives. In fact, this approach can more than pay for itself in just the first month, while requiring minimal additional time commitment from your staff.
Shockwave therapy is a life-changing advancement in rehabilitation and orthopedic fields. By harnessing the power of acoustic waves, it allows for non-invasive, non-painful, side-effect free treatments that are done in minutes. As a result, this approach makes it possible for clinics to attract more patients, improve their ROI, and change more lives without a significant increase in time investment from the staff. At Shockwave Source, we offer affordable leases of powerful sound wave technology. Discover what is possible for your clinic and your patients. We are here to help.
