Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Explained
Have You Heard About the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) ?
Using shock wave as a mode of treatment is nothing new in the medical field. One of the first place this therapy appeared was in urology and orthopedics, where high- energy sound waves are mainstay. In Urology, doctors use these high- energy waves to generate under water explosion to disintegrate kidney stones. In orthopedics, the initial idea was to treat or dissolve a heel spur. Even though that failed, the same study found an 80% success rate of reducing the pain associated with the condition. Since then, the therapy has been modified to treatment pain.
A Little History
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is not a new technology, but through research and studies, experts have found more use of it. For more than ten years, this has been a treatment option to remove kidney stones. It was when orthopedics department tried to remove a heel spur with it, that we have a new use for the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a treatment option. While the heel spur did not disappear, doctors and patients found that the feet feel less pain after the procedure. While you are feeling better on your feet, doctors find that the treatment can trigger muscle repair, and formation of new blood vessels. This is good news, as blood flow means less scar tissue.
What Can It Do For You
If you are a professional runner or athlete, scar tissues are bad news. If you are a good candidate for the therapy, you will be happy to know that ESWT promotes new blood vessels to form, as well as tissue repair. Both of these are the strengths of the therapy, as it not only provides pain relief, it can help you recover faster with a good exercise regime. Another benefit for using this therapy, is that ESWT is a medication free option. You can delay your cortisone injection as a last resort, because you can now try this treatment at our clinics.
What Are You Waiting For?
Come in for an assessment, our friendly podiatrist can tell you if you are a good candidate for the Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy. This has less risk than a cortisone injection, and it is less invasive as well. You might be surprised on how well it works.
Reference:
Cayton, Thomas et al. “Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for the Treatment of Lower Limb Intermittent Claudication: Study Protocol for a Randomised Controlled Trial (the SHOCKWAVE 1 Trial).” Trials 18 (2017): 104. PMC. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.
Lee, Su-Jin et al. “Dose-Related Effect of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis.” Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine 37.3 (2013): 379–388. PMC. Web. 14 Nov. 2017.
