What Shockwave Therapy Is
Shockwave therapy sends acoustic waves through the skin into the tissue underneath, using a hand-held device with an applicator tip. Doctors also call it extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or ESWT. Extracorporeal means outside the body. It is noninvasive, so nothing is cut or injected.
Urologists began using high-energy acoustic waves in the early 1980s to break up kidney stones, a procedure called lithotripsy. Devices made for orthopedic care came decades later.
Is all shockwave therapy the same?
No. Two kinds of device are in use. A focused device builds to its peak force at a set depth in the tissue. A radial device is strongest near its tip, and the wave loses energy as it spreads.
A 2022 physician paper on best practices for shockwave therapy explains how focused and radial devices differ.
How It Works, in Plain Terms
Despite the name, there is no electric shock. The waves are mechanical sound waves, and you can hear them while the device runs.
A hand-held device rests on the skin over the area being treated, and the waves pass through the skin to the tissue below. The device stays outside the body the whole time.
What a Visit Generally Involves
Published hospital guides describe a visit along these lines, and details at our clinic may differ.
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An evaluation comes first
Your evaluation covers your health history, including any implanted device, pregnancy or medicines, to determine if you are a candidate.
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You get comfortable
Depending on the area and what feels comfortable, you may sit up or lie down. A contact gel is normally placed on the skin.
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The treatment itself
A probe rests on the area and the device runs. One hospital guide says this part takes up to about five minutes. Say so if it gets uncomfortable.
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Afterward
You can normally go back to your usual activities. The same guide advises holding off for 48 hours on strenuous activity that stresses the treated area.
Ask About Shockwave Therapy in Towson
Shockwave therapy is one of our chiropractic rehab services in Towson. After our comprehensive evaluation, a service like this may be recommended, depending on your condition.
Questions about who provides the treatment, insurance or cost are best answered by phone.
Ridgeleigh and Cromwell Valley Park Nearby
LaSalle Rd meets E Joppa Rd about 0.2 miles east of the clinic, and Mylander Ln about 0.3 miles east. Ridgeleigh is about a mile east, and Cromwell Valley Park is about 2 miles northeast.