What Is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy?
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is an innovative, noninvasive treatment that can reduce muscle, tendon, bone, and joint pain while stimulating the body's healing response for faster injury recovery. First approved by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) in the 1990s to treat kidney stones without surgery, ESWT has since found multiple applications for pain, healing, and injury treatment, especially for athletes. At Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta, Dr. Christopher Williams and his team offer ESWT in Atlanta, GA as a noninvasive, nonsurgical option to help treat a variety of pain types and injuries. If you'd like to learn more about extracorporeal shock wave therapy, contact our office today and schedule a consultation.
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What Are the Benefits of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy?
ESWT performed at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta is a safe and effective method to treat a variety of musculoskeletal ailments. Benefits of this treatment at our Atlanta, GA facility include:
- Reducing pain and inflammation
- Encouraging fast healing
- Treating chronic conditions
- Noninvasive and nonsurgical, with no needles, no anesthetics, and no scarring
- Potential to address many different conditions
- Very little or no recovery time is necessary
- Minuscule risks
Who is a candidate for extracorporeal shock wave therapy?
ESWT uses high-energy sound waves to create shockwaves inside the body to stimulate blood flow, tissue regeneration, healing, and reduce pain. This comfortable treatment is often recommended for patients with musculoskeletal conditions and injuries who have tried RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) and over-the-counter pain relievers with little to no effect.
Dr. Williams can perform an assessment in Atlanta to determine your candidacy for extracorporeal shock wave therapy. This may include an evaluation of your health history and current symptoms before making any recommendations. We can treat a wide variety of conditions and injuries, including:
- Tennis and golfer's elbow
- Runner's knee
- Achilles tendonitis
- Shoulder tendonitis
- Muscle, joint, and tendon injuries
- Shin splints
- Heel spurs
- Plantar fasciitis
- Lower back pain
How Does Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Work?
During an ESWT treatment, ultrasound gel is applied to the skin of the treatment area. Then a handheld device is moved over the skin as sound waves are sent deep into the tissues. Most people say that the treatment feels like tiny pulses against the skin. While typically not painful, some patients may experience mild discomfort. Treatment sessions are quick and easy, lasting around 15 – 20 minutes. While we will create a personalized ESWT treatment plan for you, most patients will see the best results with at least three sessions.
What Should I Expect After ESWT?
Following their first ESWT session, many patients experience noticeable improvements almost immediately. Those results typically continue to improve after a few weeks or as more sessions are conducted. However, it may take up to 8 – 12 weeks to experience optimal results, depending on what condition is being treated. There is no downtime required, but you may want to take it easy for a day or two following an ESWT session, and strenuous activities are discouraged. You may experience mild redness, soreness, or swelling as the body's healing response is activated. These effects generally dissipate after a few hours or a couple days.
Shockwave Therapy FAQ
What conditions can shockwave therapy (ESWT) treat?
Shockwave therapy has been shown to reduce pain and inflammation while speeding healing over a wide range of conditions and injuries. These include bone, joint, ligament, tendon, and muscle issues/injuries in addition to improving musculoskeletal and neurological disorders, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
No, most patients say that shockwave therapy is not painful. While some can experience mild discomfort during an ESWT treatment, patients typically describe it as a tingly pulsing sensation.
Is shockwave therapy safe?
Yes, for the majority of patients and conditions, shockwave therapy is very safe and effective with little to no side effects. Some people may experience minor side effects after an ESWT session, including mild swelling, bruising, or numbness, but these effects generally go away quickly. There are a few conditions that may preclude a patient from this procedure, including certain nerve disorders, bone tumors, and circulatory problems. During your consultation at Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta, we will review your medical history and current health to ensure you can enjoy the regenerative benefits of shockwave therapy.
How soon will I see results after my shockwave therapy?
It depends on your body's response to the shockwave therapy and what is being treated. However, some patients can see almost immediate benefits after their first treatment. In general, most will see continuing improvements over 8 – 12 weeks when optimal results are usually achieved.
How do I prepare for shockwave therapy?
Prior to shockwave therapy, inform our team about any allergies, whether you are taking any medications (prescription or over-the-counter), or have had any recent surgeries. You may be asked to remove jewelry and other items that could interfere with the treatment. If in doubt, please contact our office in Atlanta, GA for specific instructions.
Can I combine shockwave therapy with other treatments?
Yes, extracorporeal shock wave therapy can be combined with conventional at-home treatments such as rest, ice, and physical therapy. However, patients should consult with Dr. Williams before engaging in any other treatments while receiving shockwave therapy. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive approach to injury recovery with the best possible outcome for each patient.
Speed Healing, Reduce Pain Without Surgery
If you've tried various methods to reduce muscle, tendon, and joint pain without success or are dealing with a musculoskeletal injury, but you aren't ready for surgery, ESWT (extracorporeal shock wave therapy) may be an ideal treatment option. At Interventional Orthopedics of Atlanta, Dr. Christopher Williams and his team provide safe and effective ESWT treatments to help our patients heal faster while easing their pain. If you have muscle, joint, or tendon pain or an injury unresponsive to treatment, contact our Atlanta, GA office today to learn more about ESWT and schedule a consultation. Let us help reduce your pain and speed healing without the cost and recovery time of an invasive surgery using a cutting-edge ESWT treatment regimen.
