HOME > FOCUSED-SHOCKWAVE
Focused Shockwave Therapy is now available at PrimeWave Health
Focused Shockwave Therapy, also known as ultrasound therapy and fSW, is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-intensity sound waves to stimulate the healing of soft tissues. It is used to treat various musculoskeletal disorders such as osteoarthritis, tendinitis and bursitis. It may also be used to heal wounds.
Shockwave treatment, which was first created in the 1960s, has seen considerable technical advancements in recent years. Devices nowadays are more small and portable than ever before, making them more useful in a range of therapeutic situations. Furthermore, today’s technologies are more adjustable, allowing physicians to personalize treatment to the requirements and preferences of their patients. (Source: ISMST)
A number of different types of shockwave therapy have been developed and marketed for use in hospitals and clinics as well as at home. Shockwave therapy has been created to treat a range of problems including chronic pain and has evolved into a preventative or regenerative therapy utilized for activating cellular growth and recharging tissues. A pulsed electromagnetic energy that travels at high speeds through the body and can be used to treat a wide range of ailments and injuries. Low-energy shockwave therapy is a form of shockwave therapy that has become popular with American patients. It is most commonly used to treat back pain and joint pain caused by arthritis. Shockwave therapy has been popularized in America by ED brands such as GAINSWave and SwissWave.
(Image: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/lsm.23353)
Focused shock wave treatment, also known as Focused Shockwaves, is able to penetrate deeper tissue than radial waves by concentrating the output into more targeted, deeper locations. When a current is delivered to a coil, magnetic fields are created, which produces these sorts of waves. This creates a pressure wave that may go through the medium with no energy loss in a targeted zone. Fortunately, the actual wave generating point has a low effect, resulting in minimal harm to the skin and underlying soft tissues.
FSWT is only applied at predetermined places within the body, which may be changed based on the depth necessary, unlike radial waves, which are applied all over a small region. This makes targeted treatment ideal for treating any diseases affecting deeper tissues in the body, such as those near to the bone or any thick build-up. Focused shock wave treatment is often used in conjunction with radial therapy, usually when a patient’s pain levels are too high for radial wave therapy or when a hybrid method would be more effective.
We are able to provide both radial and focused shock wave therapy with the Storz shock wave equipment at PrimeWave Health’s shockwave therapy treatment center in Las Vegas. The type of therapy we offer is determined on your condition and tolerance. In certain situations, a patient may benefit from both types of therapy to ensure that their problem is effectively addressed.
Radial shock wave therapy usually takes longer than concentrated shock wave therapy. RSWT normally takes 9 to 12 sessions, but FSWT often requires fewer. Obviously, this is dependent on the circumstances of the individual, but FSWT is often required less than RSWT.
Shock Wave Therapy is a dynamic, non-invasive procedure used around the world by doctors to treat bone and joint injuries, accelerate muscles and tendons repair, and activate cellular regeneration of other several other soft tissue indications. Shock wave therapy can offer fast pain relief and aid recovery for a range of chronic conditions including:
Because of the conditions it is capable of treating, shock wave therapy is commonly used by athletes or those with ‘overuse’ injuries, although studies show it can benefit anyone currently undergoing physiotherapy for a range of complaints. Shockwave therapy is proven to stimulate metabolic ‘healing’ reactions, it has a very high rate of success in treating difficult to treat and very painful injuries. This is why it is often used as a safe alternative to surgery, steroids, or other treatment injections.
Low-energy acoustic waves are used in shock wave treatment to penetrate the skin and treat the immediate area. A ‘generator’ or gadget is used to apply it directly to the affected region. The majority of treatments are administered by a therapist using a hand-held device that turns compressed air into low-energy sound waves. The device is moved across the wounded areas that require little pressure treatment.
For treating chronic pain, shockwave therapy has two main’modes of action.’ To begin, the shockwaves ‘desensitize’ nerve endings, which relieves pain in the immediate area. Second, the waves cause localized discomfort by increasing blood flow in the area.
Because they allow for ‘adjustable’ penetration depending on where needs to be treated, focused shock waves are effective in addressing deeper issue regions such as hamstring, pelvic, or hip troubles. Focused waves have a higher maximum intensity and are shown as a convergent wave with a variable depth of focus area. This might be anything between 2 and 30cm. The body’s natural response to treatment is to try to relieve pain by increasing cell regeneration, repairing damaged tissue, and reducing inflammation. Scar tissue issues can also benefit from shock wave therapy. Sound waves can help break down scar tissue, which is heavier and less elastic than normal tissue, improving mobility and reducing discomfort.
The waves can also be used to break down any build-up or “disorganized” tissue. While these sound waves are radial, they should not be mistaken with two commonly utilized shock wave treatments: concentrated and radial.
The key differences between radial and focused shock wave therapy are penetration depth and treatment localisation. As you might expect, the deeper the waves penetrate, the easier it is to address deep-lying disorders in tendons, muscles, and bones. Similarly, the sort of therapy required will vary based on the size of the problem region.