ESWT/Pulse Activation Therapy
After having proved its usefulness in disintegrating kidney stones for many decades, ESWT has also recently made its way into orthopedics, surgery, rheumatology and rehabilitation. Pneumatically generated pulses emitted by a hand piece are targeted on the painful areas of the body. This is proven non-invasive solution that accelerates recover of injured tissue.
Success rate - 90% improvement for heel pain (Journal of Orthopedic Research 2005).
Mode of Action
During shockwave or pulse activation therapy, chemical processes are stimulated at the synaptic contact sites of the nervous system. A complex stimulus pattern is stored at the synapses. The pathological association between pain and muscle tone and/or vascular tone is broke as a result of shockwave or pulse activation therapy, thus enabling natural movement patterns to be returned and recalled.
Shockwave therapy provides improved blood circulation in the treated pain regions. A long-term change in metabolism is achieved in areas that have a naturally poor blood supply.
Treatment
Three or four treatment sessions are required approximately one week apart. No anesthesia is required. Pulses are targeted to the affected areas for about 4 or 5 minutes (200 hits). Regular activity may be resumed immediately following treatment.
Occasionally there may be some minor discomfort during and/or after the treatment. Bruising, redness or swelling may occur. The initial symptoms may take 3 or 6 months after the last treatment to completely resolve.