Shockwave therapy is becoming an indispensable part of many health clinics across the country, which begs the question – “Why aren’t other clinics making use of this treatment opportunity?”.
Well, even though we won’t be able to answer that question, what we can do is help you see why your clinic needs a shockwave therapy device.
So in this article, we will cover what shockwave therapy is, how it works, and why it matters.
So keep reading to learn more.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
The clinical implementation of shockwave therapy was introduced in practice in 1982. It was primarily for various conditions of the urologic nature. And with the success of the approach for treating urinary stones, it has made quick rounds in the non-invasive, effective, first-line approach to the issue.
Consequently, it was further studied in the realm of orthopedics, where it was determined that it could help loosen cementing in total hip arthroplasty for revisions. Furthermore, in animal studies done in the 1980s, shockwave therapy was able to augment bone-cement interfaces. This leads to an osteogenic response that enhances fracture healing.
While the benefits of shockwave therapy have been shown to help in practically all of the orthopedic research, the focus has been placed on lower and upper extremities and their fasciopathies, tendinopathies, and soft tissue issues.
Now shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that instructs several low or high energy acoustic waves. Waves are targeted to an area of the body through the skin via a carrier medium of gel.
Shockwave therapy on its own is an excellent treatment from lingering injury or subsequent pain as a result of an illness. When being treated by shockwave therapy, painkillers are not necessary. The entire premise is to trigger natural healing, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
Some of the benefits of shockwave therapy are:
- No anesthesia
- Limited side-effect profile
- Non-invasive
- Affordable cost/efficiency ratio
- Possibly treats acute pain
And of course, what stands out is the limited side-effect profile, so we must address it. The side-effects only arise from improper usage of the device, such as using it on a person who has a nerve or circulation disorder, bone tumor, infection, metabolic bone issues.
It should also not be used on pregnant women, on open wounds or tumors. And it should be avoided by people who have severe circulatory disorders or take blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants).
Principles of Method of Action
In premise, there are four separate ways to generate a shockwave. And they are:
- Spark discharge
- Electromagnetic
- Pneumatic
- Piezoelectric method
The wave generated by each method will vary in energy delivery and have a specific penetration characteristic for human tissue. In therapy, however, the common method is the pneumatic, a.k.a the electrohydraulic, and for good reason. This method results in radial wave dispersion.
These types of waves are the opposite of those that are focused on surgical interventions because focused waves have a natural destructive profile. Meaning they are not great for therapeutic reasons. Focused waves are hard shockwaves; radial/dispersive are soft shockwaves.
In reality, the effects of shockwave therapy are unknown. However, the proposed principles of effectiveness are based on the promotion of neovascularization at the bone-tendon insertion, as well as stimulation of proliferation of tenocytes and an uptick in leukocyte infiltration. But also osteoprogenitor differentiation, protein synthesis, and amplification of growth factor.
In clinical jargon, these result in pain reduction by inhibiting the gate control for pain signaling. They also increase the metabolism on a cellular level. And they influence blood flow, which leads to tissue healing. Finally, they restore muscle tone by reducing pain impact on muscle.
This Is Why Your Clinic Needs A Shockwave Therapy Device
As mentioned earlier, we are not to determine why clinics are not implementing the use of shockwave therapy, but rather show why a clinic can benefit from the use of it.
As promised, here are several reasons that alone constitute the value of providing shockwave therapy. So keep reading.
New Money
If your clinic sees investments as liabilities, you’re not considering the equation from all angles. First, clinics typically bill anywhere from $80 to $200 for shockwave therapy, and in some cases, even more.
This therapy can easily be implemented into an existing treatment plan and provided as an add-on to already working methodologies. Insurance companies cover this therapy when performed by healthcare specialists, so there’s that.
In general, the personal hands-on industry is changing fast. The days when ultrasound and electrotherapy were enough are gone. Patients, referrers, associates are looking for clinics that provide modalities, such as shockwave therapy.
Investing in a device now will improve revenue flow, bring new patients, and bring life back to your clinic.
Treat More
Shockwave therapy provides indispensable solutions to conditions that you might not be treated now. It is preferable for chronic conditions, especially for people who have not responded as well to other therapies.
This significantly expands your patient pool, which means you can treat them with effective potency and rejuvenate their living with chronic issues.
Not to mention, treatments are quick and don’t take longer than 10 minutes for a single region. Fast, effective, affordable – means you get to treat more people per hour while increasing your cash flow for that time frame.
Isn’t that the whole purpose of your clinic? To heal more people over a shorter time frame, so that the world is healthy, strong, and want to live? Well, shockwave therapy can help you move along that path and make tremendous leaps in the world around you.
Better Results = Retention
A shockwave therapy patient can easily see improvements after the initial session. Because of this alone, patients are likely to visit you again to receive their entire treatment plan. They will also tell their family and friends about their results, leading to traction fro your clinic.
Shockwave therapy provides solutions for chronic conditions that are resistant to traditional modalities. This means that patients have not experienced good results in the past. And that you can provide them with the gleaming sign of light that will induce healing in their bodies.
These patients will be likely to recommend this therapy to others, and that matters.
Attention Flows Where The Eyes Go
Whether or not your patients have formally been prescribed shockwave therapy, patients are looking for this therapy often. In the age of information, patients have immediate access to learning about unconventional treatment opportunities for their conditions.
It is cited online, in research, and anecdotally as the perfect therapy for several conditions that they have, which means they want to experience the healing prowess.
A patient who is sensitive to prescribed medication and OTC pain killers is looking for drug-free solutions to relieve himself. Shockwave therapy can provide them with precisely that over the long-term, leading to an enhanced appreciation for life.
Doctors Recommend It
Even though shockwave therapy has been around for over three decades, it is only in the recent past that it has become an affordable modality for patients and the clinics providing the service.
Doctors are joining the bandwagon and starting to recommend this therapy for three reasons:
- It is non-invasive and safe, which depletes the need for surgery
- There is a plethora of research that supports it as an effective treatment
- Doctors see results first hand as more patients gain access to the treatment, and consequently are reporting success
As you can see, when other doctors start to recommend a therapy, that means there’s something about it. Usually, doctors are hesitant to promote new therapies in their clinics because these treatments might not have the research to back them up, or they simply don’t know enough about them.
Well, shockwave therapy is not that, and research is prevalent. And now that you’ve read this article, you know what you need to know about the device, so don’t hesitate.
Shockwave Therapy Device for You
Now that you know what shockwave therapy is, how it works and why it matters for the clinic of the modern age, you are well on your way to deciding what sort of device you will need for your clinic.
Considering this, you probably know that there is a multitude of devices on the market. Ranging from portable personal to the clinical applicant. This means that finding the right device for your clinic can become a daunting experience. So if you’re looking but can’t seem to find something, look no further.
At Oceanus, we have exactly what you need. We provide two clinical shockwave therapy devices: PhysioPro & PhysioPro II. If you’re interested in learning more or you have any doubts, get in touch with us, and we will happily accommodate your needs.