New developments in technology create new medical treatments to empower wellness in patients. In today’s post, Dr. Eric Ricefield, Dr. Mark Yagodich, Dr. Aliza V. Eisen, and Cassandra Stache, DPM of greater Philadelphia’s Your Next Step Foot and Ankle Care Center, look at shock wave therapy and its benefits.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy utilizes high-energy shock waves outside the body to relieve healing. It is also referred to as shock wave therapy and acoustic wave therapy, but the results are typically the same.
Shock Wave Therapy Benefits
- It’s effective for various medical conditions: Generally, shock wave therapy is an effective treatment method to reduce inflammation and pain in numerous parts of the human body. It also reduces fibrosis and calcification and is proven effective with other treatments like laser therapy.
- Its effects are long-lasting: This treatment has been shown to provide long-lasting pain relief. For example, patients with tendinopathy in the elbow, shoulder, and plantar fascia reported no more pain six months after treatment.
- The therapy is medically affordable: Shock wave therapy is reasonably priced as it doesn’t require expensive anesthetics.
With all the benefits shock wave therapy offers, it’s not surprising that it is a top therapy choice for numerous medical conditions. It effectively reduces pain and boosts the patient’s quality of life and functionality.
Conditions Treated by Shock Wave Therapy
Shock wave therapy can treat a range of conditions, including:
- Peripheral neuropathy/nerve pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Tennis/golfer’s elbow
- Chronic joint pain
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
Approximately 80-90% of patients describe diminished plantar fasciitis inflammation and pain. Up to 30% of patients also show decreased bone spurs after treatment.
One of shock wave therapy’s greatest positives is it’s non-invasive. Even with modern developments, there’s always some risk to performing surgery. On the other hand, shock wave therapy can be performed in a lower-risk setting. And with a briefer recovery time, patients can get back to their lives faster than with surgery.
Shock wave therapy is generally safer, less expensive, and more effective for treating heel spurs and comparable problems. With shock wave therapy treatments, previously challenging conditions are now easier to address than ever before.
If you’re dealing with ankle pain, heel spurs, or comparable ankle and foot problems, contact Greater Philadelphia’s Your Next Step Foot and Ankle Care Center. You can click here to locate contact information for the office nearest you to book your appointment.