They say music is healing, but have you ever used sound waves to treat an old injury?
Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) was originally developed to disintegrate urinary stones, but a recent study shows increasing evidence of its effectiveness in treating a variety of injuries and chronic issues.
“We use Acoustic Wave Therapy to treat patients recovering from tendonopathies caused by repetitive stress injuries. One of the things I love about it is that, unlike surgery, AWT is noninvasive and cost effective,” says Dr. Stephen Ball of Ball Chiropractic Center. In fact the journal of orthopedic surgery AWT as the treatment of choice for tendonopathies like plantar fasciitis and similar problems of the shoulder and elbow.
A small wand, similar to that used in ultrasound, is placed on the skin at the injured area. Then acoustic waves (which operate at a different frequency from ultrasound) travel to the affected area.
“Acoustic Wave Therapy doesn’t affect any of the surrounding tissue. It generates a biological response at the molecular and cellular level to break up scar tissue and encourage healing,” Dr. Ball says.
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Acoustic Wave Therapy helps with chronic pain and orthopedic conditions, and the study from the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery considers AWT the treatment of choice for:
- Frozen shoulder
- Tennis + golf elbow
- IT band and hip pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Tendon pain (Patellar, Achilles, etc)
- Plantar Fasciitis
- Delayed fracture healing
If you’re dealing with a chronic injury, coping with pain and reduced functionality, Acoustic Wave Therapy might help.
“The goal with any chiropractic care is to reduce pain and increase functionality by improving range of motion and reducing inflammation,” Dr. Ball says. “Acoustic Wave Therapy is one of many great tools that can help my patients find relief.”
Treatment is safe, and can significantly speed up your recovery from an injury. There may be slight discomfort during the treatment depending on the level of pain you’re already experiencing from the injury, but a typical session only lasts five minutes and often patients experience relief from symptoms after their first session.
Ball Chiropractic Center offers three sessions of Acoustic Wave Therapy at a reduced price. Find Ball Chiropractic Center at 1717 S 324th St. B in Federal Way. Request an appointment online at ballchiropracticcenter.com or call 253-838-6909.
