Shockwave and Radial Pressure Wave Therapy: Your New Answer to Old Pain Problems

Shockwave therapy is a fantastic therapy that jumped from science lab to clinical practice in the 1980s. Since then, Radial Pressure Wave Therapy has been developed from the same technology and has notably reduced pain and healed chronic muscle and joint conditions. Radial pressure wave therapy may be the proper treatment if you’re looking for an alternative to traditional surgery or medication. Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is a highly effective, non-invasive treatment at Ravenswood Chiropractic and Wellness Center.

This therapy is invaluable because it is quick and effective in treating chronic pain conditions. In addition, it can provide relief without the side effects associated with traditional methods such as medications and surgery and for those that cannot tolerate other conservative treatment methods.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of Shockwave and Radial Pressure Wave Therapy and how it might help you.

What is Radial Pressure Wave Therapy?

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is in the same family as Shockwave Therapy which uses a quick vibration to produce a pressure wave that penetrates the injured area and stimulates the body’s healing process safely and effectively. Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is a similar technology to Ultrasound and Shockwave Therapy that other medical practitioners use. However, to scientists, the wave is produced differently in Radial Pressure Wave Therapy because it is produced mechanically. In Shockwave therapy and ultrasound therapy, the wave is made electronically. The difference in wave production causes wave compression differences, so they look different between the devices when you see the waves represented on a chart. This is also how the waves have other characteristics, such as reaching different depths, having different strengths, etc. For patients receiving Radial Pressure Wave Therapy, there can be slight discomfort during the treatment, but like Ultrasound, there are usually only pain-relieving effects felt afterward. Sometimes, the slight discomfort may be described as similar to deep tissue massage. This feeling is also similar to shockwave therapy. However, patients typically find relief faster with Radial Pressure Wave Therapy than with Ultrasound.

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPW) is sometimes incorrectly referred to as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), Acoustic wave therapy, or focused shockwave therapy. As we discussed above, the waves are produced differently with possess different characteristics. The difference is the frequency (speed) and the depth of the wave. With Radial Pressure Wave Therapy, the depth is also controlled by the chiropractic physician, who does this by using different specially made attachments on the device for the area being treated and adjusting the settings on the machine according to the patient’s feedback on the condition being treated.

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is quickly growing in popularity because some studies and clinical use suggests that fewer overall treatments are needed to resolve an issue compared to other methods, such as ultrasound therapy.

For example, since Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is stronger and penetrates deeper than Ultrasound, a typical treatment course is usually once per week for just 3 to 8 sessions, depending on severity. In addition, Radial Pressure Wave can be used alone or in combination with other treatments, as discussed with your Chiropractic Physician.

How was Radial Pressure Wave Therapy Developed?

Radial pressure wave therapy arose from shockwave therapy research and clinical use that was developed in the 1980s and quickly used clinically to treat kidney stones.

Since then, wide varieties of wave therapies have been developed. One of the most promising for joint and muscle pain is Radial Pressure Wave Therapy because it is safe with minimal side effects. In addition, Radial Pressure Wave Therapy is as quick to see results as it is effective, making it a convenient and cost-effective option for many chronic pain conditions. It is also easy to receive treatment at your chiropractic or physical therapist’s office as it is not a non-medicated and non-invasive procedure. Since it’s introduction, Radial Pressure Wave Therapy has rapidly expanded as a result of its success to help with dozens of other conditions, including plantar fasciitis, golfer’s elbow, and shin splints, to name a few.

How Does Radial Pressure Wave Therapy Work?

Radial pressure wave therapy delivers high-energy pressure waves to the area of the body being treated. These pressure waves stimulate the body’s natural healing process by increasing blood flow and promoting the growth of new cells.

Although the name might sound intimidating, your first Radial Pressure Wave Therapy session will be relaxing and something you might already be used to, especially if you’ve had an ultrasound.

Your chiropractic physician will put gel on the area that’s going to be treated, then they will place a handheld applicator – called a wand – on top of the gel. It is very similar to an ultrasound wand. As the wand is moved around the area that is being treated, it will send pressure waves through the skin and to the injured tissue.

These pressure waves will effectively reduce muscle pain and also increase blood flow, and by doing so, they will stimulate the repair process of the damaged tissue.

What are the Benefits of Radial Pressure Wave Therapy?

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy has been shown to provide several potential benefits, including the following:

• Reduced pain
• Reduced Inflammation
• Improved circulation and blood flow
• Reduced scar tissue
• Healing connective tissue
• Stimulation of the body’s natural healing process

Which Conditions Does Radial Pressure Wave Therapy Help With?

If you’re tired of taking medication and looking for a non-invasive way to deal with stubborn pain, radial pressure wave therapy might help.

If you suffer from one or more of the following conditions, radial pressure wave therapy could be exactly what you need to heal and say goodbye to pain finally:

• Plantar Fasciitis
• Chronic Muscle Aches & Pains
• Tennis Elbow
• Golfer’s Elbow
• Rotator Cuff Injuries
• Shoulder Tendonitis
• Hip pain
• Sciatica
• Knee Pain
• Patellar Tendonitis
• Shin Splints
• Achilles Tendonitis
• Patellar Tendonitis
• Tendon Injuries
• Trigger Points
• Calcifications
• Carpal Tunnel

Ready to Try Radial Pressure Wave Therapy?

If you’ve tried surgery or other healing therapy methods without success and want to avoid surgical procedures or addictive medications, Radial Pressure Wave Therapy might be precisely what you need!

Call us at 773-878-7330 to discuss how radial pressure wave therapy could be right for you.