Almost 7.5% of adults have chronic pain that limits their daily activities. More than one-fifth of Americans deal with chronic pain in general, even if it hasn’t progressed to the point of causing limitations.
Most chronic pain reports were in adults over 65. But pain can strike anyone at any time, even from simple things such as how you sit at work, daily exercise, or accidents.
Shockwave therapy is an innovative treatment solution that has helped many people manage and overcome chronic pain. Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on what shockwave therapy is, what it treats, and most importantly, how it is more cost-friendly than other treatments. Keep reading for more information!
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Low-intensity shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment. It is often used to kickstart the body’s natural healing process and can help increase blood flow to a region.
How does shockwave therapy treatment work?
The treatment involves a small, handheld probe that emits sound waves when turned on. These sound waves penetrate the tissue and cause increased blood flow and help cells start regenerating and healing themselves.
The increase in blood flow to the region helps bring more nutrients and decreases pain. Some possible shockwave therapy options include:
- Chronic pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendinitis
- Erectile dysfunction
Its primary use has centered around sports rehabilitation, but there are plenty of other reasons to use it as research progresses!
Shockwave Therapy Treatment Options
Improving health and wellness is the ultimate goal of shockwave therapy. It is an alternative route for healing compared to surgical implications. It also has minimal to no recovery time, and treatments are short!
In studies for erectile dysfunction, they found that participants showed significant improvement in their symptoms. More research on sexual wellness can help researchers fine-tune treatment protocols.
However, one of shockwave therapy’s key uses is treating chronic pain. Patients and athletes who are not receptive to other treatments for lingering problems such as tennis elbow, jumper’s knee, and more may benefit from an alternative treatment.
Shockwave therapy can help combat:
- Chronic inflammation
- Calcium build-up
- Trigger points
- Pain neurotransmitters
In certain cases, shockwave therapy can reduce pain and improve function by as much as 80 percent. Some of the injuries that showed significant improvements with shockwave therapy are:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Epicondylitis
- Rotator cuff tendinitis
You can also use shockwave therapy for more than small, isolated areas. For example, many patients report good improvements with chronic back pain. For larger areas, treatments may take longer.
How To Find Affordable Shockwave Therapy
There are two main routes of purchasing shockwave therapy devices:
- Clinic use
- Home use
The prices for these devices will fluctuate based on the type and how many you need. You can find affordable shockwave therapy devices through Oceanus.
Clinic Use Shockwave Therapy
A clinic can benefit from purchasing shockwave therapy devices to improve its range of non-invasive treatment options. As a benefit, shockwave therapy is safe and does not have side effects that other costly procedures do.
Its broad range of uses makes it ideal for rehabilitation and medical clinics since you can use it on many diagnoses. In post-surgical cases, it can also help speed up recovery and reduce further healthcare costs.
There are three main treatment options for in-clinic use:
- PhysioLITE III
- PhysioPRO
- PhysioPRO II
Costs range from under $800 to nearly $5,000. The benefit of owning a shockwave therapy wand and unit is that you can set prices and avoid paying for rentals. It appeals to the customer because they have the option of cost-friendly and noninvasive treatment options.
The PhysioLITE III is a great entry-level device for quick and easy use. It is the ideal candidate for in-home use because of its slim design and user-friendly interface (more on that below). The two main clinic use devices are the PhysioPRO and PhysioPRO II.
The PhysioPRO comes equipped with deep penetration shockwave therapy and a seven-inch screen display. The benefit of these devices is they have pre-programmed settings, such as:
- Epicondylitis
- Shoulder tendinitis
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
- Heel spurs
- Myofascial release (e.g., back and neck)
- Shin splints
- And more
It takes the guesswork out of treatment protocol and helps deliver effective and fast results. In comparison, the PhysioPRO II is a difference of $1,000 cheaper than the PhysioPRO. The PhysioPRO II does not have a screen display but boasts many preset functions and modes.
In-Home Shockwave Therapy
If you want to avoid in-clinic costs, you can opt for purchasing an in-home shockwave therapy device. Why would you want to purchase a device for home use?
- Fast
- Affordable
- East-to-use
- Versatile
- Minimal downtime
The PhysioLITE III is the easiest one to purchase for a home. It is a small wand that can easily fit into storage or drawers at home and is cost-friendly. The PhysioLITE III offers clinical-grade shockwave therapy that helps with soft tissue healing.
It has an adjustable frequency and only requires five minutes of treatment. This adaptable device also causes vasodilation and helps create new blood cells in areas with injured tissue.
The PhysioLITE III’s easy-to-use interface makes it an ideal choice for any resident looking at a simple, pain-free solution to chronic pain. The PhysioLITE III is also the cheapest one for in-clinic use at just under $800.
How Much Do Treatments Cost?
Most treatment centers offer shockwave therapy treatments at around a few hundred dollars. As a patient, this is far less than surgical interventions.
As a clinic, it can easily make up for the machine’s price and help patients find the relief they have been searching for. With safe and effective treatments on board, your facility can develop a better rapport with the community and patients.
Prices per treatment will depend on:
- Clinic
- Where you live
- Type of shockwave therapy device
- Insurance coverage
Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is still undergoing clinical trials and studies and is not currently approved for insurance coverage. With changes in medical technology and advancements, this could likely change in the future. You should follow up with your physician or insurance provider for any specific changes.
Offering shockwave therapy in a clinic or seeking out a clinic that offers it can help reduce your out-of-pocket cost if it meets medically necessary criteria. Currently, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) does provide coverage in specific scenarios for extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Primarily, insurance coverage centers around musculoskeletal conditions. CMS has outlined a few specific conditions where insurance could cover part of or the entirety of the procedure, including:
- Should calcific tendinopathy
- Elbow tendinopathy
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Fractures or delayed unions
- Patellar tendinopathy
High-energy shockwave therapy may not be covered, although it is not as commonly used as low-intensity. High-intensity shockwave therapy is usually more painful, expensive, and can require anesthesia. It is not advised for use in outpatient clinics or at home.
Chronic Pain Treatment Costs
The highest medical expense in America isn’t heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. In a 20-year span, the highest medical costs were for chronic back and neck pain.
In those twenty years, back and neck pain cost around $134 billion. That includes insurance and out-of-pocket costs. Why does chronic pain cost patients and insurance so much money?
Approximately 80% of Americans will experience low back pain at some point during their lives. Experts speculate that the high costs relate to complicated and time-consuming procedures and treatments.
The amount of resources needed to treat chronic pain is increasing, and patients are paying the price. For example, healthcare spending per person averages around $10,000 annually. Approximately 9.2% is out-of-pocket costs.
That is almost $1,000 in out-of-pocket health expenses! Most of it is tied back to the issue surrounding chronic pain and finding more cost-friendly treatments. As a patient, forking out a few hundred dollars for a non-invasive and effective treatment doesn’t sound as bad now.
How Many Treatments Will You Need?
The number of treatments a patient needs depends on:
- Injury type
- Responsiveness to treatment
Most patients only need a few treatments before they are back on their feet. Although this can range close to $1,000, it should help eliminate future chronic pain costs and invasive procedures. However, injuries that may only require one treatment are:
- Radial and ulnar epicondylitis
- Shoulder tendinitis
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Myofascial trigger point release
- Trochanteric bursitis
Most of the conditions that only need one to three sessions are acute injuries. Delayed treatment or chronic issues may take longer.
Save Money on Your Health and Wellness
You can save money on your health and wellness through shockwave therapy treatments. As a clinic or patient, these devices are revolutionizing the medical industry through their versatility, affordability, and effectiveness.
Don’t wait to get started. Whether you are searching for an in-home use device or something new for the clinic, Oceanus offers multiple shockwave therapy tools to get started. Contact us today to learn more about devices, protocol, and training!