Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

“Extracorporeal shockwave therapy [ESWT] uses sound wave technology to increase blood flow and growth factors to an area of injury, usually a tendon, and also to break up calcifications, scar tissue or adhesions. It is a therapy that has been around for a while but has just started to gain momentum in the US in the sports medicine world in the last few years. It's very helpful for a number of conditions, including chronic tendinopathies, and plantar fasciitis.” -Dr. Bailey Meccariello

The treatment uses pulses of energy, or “shockwaves,” to cause micro-traumas in the soft tissues that have been damaged and are experiencing chronic pain. The waves are generated by a small machine, and travel through a cable and into an applicator wand. Dr. Meccariello then uses the wand to deliver the shockwaves into your injured tissues. The waves trigger a healing response, increasing the natural biological processes that fight inflammation and accelerate tissue regeneration.

ADVANTAGES OF ESWT

• It's safe. Shockwave therapy is extremely safe. Patients may experience minor side effects, such as mild swelling or bruising for a few days after the procedure, but major side effects are extremely rare. • It's non-surgical. You can continue your life while you receive shockwave therapy without having to set aside time for a lengthy surgical recovery. • It's non-invasive. Nothing needs to be delivered inside the body through needles or tubes for shockwave therapy. The term "extracorporeal" actually means outside the body. • It's drug-free. No steroids or prescriptions are part of ESWT. Other than a possible local anesthetic where the therapy is delivered, ESWT uses the body's own mechanisms to heal itself. • It's effective. For many people who are not helped by other conservative treatments like stretching, physical therapy and rest, shockwave therapy can lessen pain and speed up healing. It may help patients avoid surgery, or recover more quickly.