Sound Wave Therapy
Experience the transformative power of sound wave therapy, a cutting-edge technique also referred to as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). At Arkansas Progressive Medicine, our dedicated team brings you the convenience of receiving this swift and non-invasive treatment right in the comfort of our office.
What is Sound Wave Therapy?
Sound wave therapy (also called shock wave therapy) is a non-surgical treatment for damage to the musculoskeletal system, including trauma to the tendons, joints, and ligaments. The more technical names and acronyms are “EPAT” (extra-corporeal pulsed-activated therapy) and also “ESWT” (extracorporeal shock wave therapy).
Essentially, sound wave therapy is a method of using sound waves to stimulate the body’s own natural healing process to recover from painful conditions. Sound wave therapy is sound medical science, it is approved by the FDA, and it helps your body to heal itself. It requires no drugs or painkillers, it is non-invasive, and there are no serious side effects.
How does it work?
Utilizing both low and high-frequency sound waves, a cutting-edge therapeutic technique called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is employed to delicately induce microtrauma to the subcutaneous tissue, effectively triggering the body's innate healing response in the targeted area. Initially devised to disintegrate kidney stones, ESWT has evolved to proficiently fragment scar tissue and other types of tissue, while simultaneously promoting tissue regeneration and revitalization. By harnessing ESWT, individuals suffering from a diverse range of conditions can experience remarkable pain relief, including:
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Achilles tendon injuries
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Erectile dysfunction
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Golfer's elbow
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Ligament injuries
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Plantar fasciitis
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Rotator cuff injuries
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Tendonitis
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Tennis elbow
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Trigger finger
With its multifaceted applications, ESWT has emerged as a groundbreaking solution for enhancing the well-being and restoring optimal function in affected areas.
What can I expect?
During the procedure, you can simply recline and relax while a gentle wand glides over your skin, transmitting soothing sound waves to the targeted area. Although the device emits a series of audible clicks during operation, rest assured that the entire procedure is completely painless.
Similar to the services offered at Arkansas Progressive Medicine, ESWT (Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy) effectively stimulates your body's natural healing process to repair the damaged area. As a result, it may take several weeks for you to fully experience the beneficial effects of this therapy.
Each session typically lasts less than half an hour, ensuring a convenient and time-efficient experience. Depending on your specific condition, multiple treatment sessions may be required to achieve the desired outcome you seek.
Sound wave therapy provides an alternative approach to relieving pain and addressing various symptoms, eliminating the need for medication or invasive surgery. It serves as a remarkable addition to any comprehensive pain management treatment plan, offering you enhanced options for pain relief and improved well-being.
Does sound wave therapy hurt or have any side effects?
No, the treatment itself does not hurt, but it can feel very “intense” — we like to say that sound wave therapy is like a jackhammer for your body. It produces a buzzing sensation that definitely feels funny, but we have the ability to increase or decrease the frequency of the sound waves if a patient asks us to. So we can “blast away” if they’re okay with the full frequency, or we can turn it down if needed, and then the session will need to last longer in order to get the full benefit.
There are some light side effects, including soreness in the affected area or limb, and some swelling and bruising. This happens because we’re using sound waves to pulsate deep into your tissues and break down adhesions and scar tissue. This is what needs to happen in order for your body to heal from the underlying condition that is causing you pain, so even though the treatment might not feel pleasant, that’s the sign that it is actually working the right way.
The side effects of light swelling and bruising, though, are very minor compared to the side effects and possible risks of surgery, which is the whole point: we use sound wave therapy to avoid needing surgery.
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