After treatment, some patients experience immediate improvement in symptoms, such as reduced pain and increased range of motion. However, in some cases, it may take several weeks before you feel the full benefits of shockwave therapy. Most patients (especially those affected by tendon problems) report improved functionality and quality of life after receiving a course of shockwave therapy treatments. After the procedure, it's normal to experience some redness and swelling in the treated area, but it usually goes away in a few minutes.
hours. Most people return to normal activities right away, but Dr. Geoghan recommends avoiding strenuous exercise for a few days. It is usually recommended to avoid strenuous or high-impact exercise for 48 hours after a session.
After this, you can resume your normal activities and exercise therapy regimen. Follow-up sessions will be booked and your response will be monitored. Most patients experience immediate pain relief after treatment. However, 2 to 4 hours after treatment, some people may feel some sensitivity in the treated area, which should be tolerable and not limiting. If the sequelae hurt too much, consult your therapist so that you can adjust the treatment dose.
After treatment, you may feel temporary pain, tenderness, or swelling, as shock waves stimulate an inflammatory response. Patients can continue their daily activities after the shockwave and should continue physical therapy with few exceptions. The concentrated shock wave presents a low risk of tendon tearing, so some patients may be advised to modify activity. For most patients who experience pain improvement, it may be reasonable to resume activity after 48 hours.
The return to sports and exercise is guided by your doctor. After the shockwave session, you will be able to move your body part normally. Many of our patients feel a significant reduction in pain after shock wave treatment. However, usually 2 to 4 hours after the session, they experience some temporary pain and tenderness in the area.
This rarely lasts longer than 24 hours and is a normal reaction to shockwave therapy. For most patients, this will not limit normal daily activities. It's not uncommon to feel a little pain afterward and to have some bruising in the treatment area. After the procedure, it is best to avoid anti-inflammatory medications, such as Advil, since stimulating the inflammation cascade is part of the healing process activated by the ESWT.
Aside from that, you can do your normal activities, usually even exercising if you feel like doing so. For persistent conditions that haven't responded to traditional treatments, it offers extracorporeal shockwave therapy, an innovative, non-invasive way to accelerate healing. To get the most out of shock wave therapy, you should try to let the treated area sit for 24 hours before and after treatment. Focused shock wave therapy is an effective, fast-acting, non-surgical treatment for soft tissue injuries. Studies show that this pain improvement continues for months and even years after the last shockwave session ends (Moya, et al.).
Because it has no side effects or long-term implications, shock wave therapy can be an excellent alternative to other treatments for pain relief, such as steroids, which can have degenerative effects to long-term damage to tendons and joints. Shockwave therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment with compelling evidence of its effectiveness from a large amount of research and clinical trials. The shock waves that occur during treatment initiate a controlled inflammatory response in the injured tissue so that the body responds naturally and promotes healing, helping to alleviate pain and other symptoms. The effects of shock wave therapy are somewhat immediate in terms of pain relief and improved mobility, but the biological healing process continues for weeks.
The list of ways patients describe extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is almost as long as the list of conditions that this advanced treatment can help cure. We recommend that anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, be discontinued 48 hours before starting shock wave treatment and not used for the entire period of shock wave treatment. Tell your provider before treatment if you have a circulatory, bone, or nerve disorder, if you have signs of a wound or infection, if you are pregnant, or if you are taking any medications, as shock wave therapy may not be right for you. Shockwave therapy isn't just another trend in the medical field; it's a significant advance in non-invasive treatment options for relieving pain and healing tissues.
Your healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare for shock wave therapy and give you instructions for aftercare. to the procedure.