What is Piezowave/Shockwave Therapy?
Piezowave or shockwave therapy is a myofascial acoustic compression technique invented by Richard Wolf, who developed a special device that uses precisely targeted sound waves to stimulate the musculoskeletal system underneath your skin. This stimulation provides pain relief and leads to improved circulation in the targeted area triggering your body’s own natural healing processes.
Piezowave therapy is a non-invasive process with no side effects and many patients have found it to be an effective alternative to surgery. For maximum benefit, the sound waves are accurately adjusted for both depth and intensity and can help to heal tissues that lie too deep for conventional physical manipulation.
Which conditions can be treated by Piezowave/Shockwave Therapy?
Piezowave/Shockwave therapy is used to treat both acute and chronic pain in the muscles and joints. It’s commonly used to relieve painful conditions such as plantar fasciitis with heel spurs, tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, and arthritis.
It’s particularly useful in the treatment of pain caused by:
- myofascial dysfunction
- tendinopathy
- trigger points
- repetitive stress injuries
- enthesopathy
- soft tissue strain
What happens during a Piezowave/Shockwave treatment session?
The patient relaxes on a doctor’s couch or treatment table in a similar position to the one used for massage of the affected area. The doctor uses gel to ensure the Piezowave device glides smoothly over the skin above the painful muscle or soft tissue while adjusting the depth and intensity of the sound waves.
In your first session, you may experience instant pain relief or some slight soreness as your own natural healing processes are triggered. As the series of sound wave pulses penetrate your skin, they can cause a dull ache, a signal that your body is responding, which should soon fade. A typical treatment session lasts 20-30 minutes.
How many sessions does it take to see results?
Chiropractor and Sports Medicine specialist Dr. Arash Noor assesses his patients case by case and makes recommendations on the basis of the site of the pain and the underlying condition causing it. Each muscle group or soft tissue area requires a specific depth and intensity of Piezowave therapy, which may be used in combination with other treatments such as physiotherapy.
Dr. Noor usually recommends a series of between three to six sessions, scheduled 7-14 days apart, depending on the individual.
What can shockwave therapy treat?
- Arthritis
- Tennis elbow/Golfer’s elbow
- Knee Pain
- Shoulder Pain
- Rotator Cuff Injury
- Tendonitis
- Wrist Pain
- Sprains and strains
- Plantar fasciitis
- Ankle pain
- Turf toe/sand toe
- Track and field injuries
- Disc herniations
- Headaches
- Neck pain
- Hip pain
