Debunking 4 Myths About Shockwave Therapy

Knee Pain: What Is It and How Can You Recover From It?

According to recent studies, more than 1 in 5 American adults experience some form of chronic pain. The most common areas are the back, hips, knees, and feet.

Traditional treatments for chronic pain are usually high-risk but low-reward. Surgery, for example, could restore mobility for a short while but would require a lot of money, not to mention the long rehabilitation period. And after a few years, the pain would return and patients would be back where they started. Pain medications didn’t restore mobility at all, just masked the pain as the condition continued to progress.

Fortunately, as the world embraced technology and modernization, so did the medical and healthcare industry. One modern solution currently gaining popularity as an alternative to traditional and high-risk solutions is Shockwave Therapy.

Shockwave Therapy started out as a treatment for kidney stones back in the 80s and 90s, but its uses in treating pain soon became apparent. It makes use of high-powered soundwaves to target the root causes of chronic pain that usually lie within the soft tissues, muscles, and tendons. These waves reactivate the body’s natural growth processes to initiate healing and recovery.

And according to clinical studies, roughly 91% of patients who have undergone this treatment have reported successful results!

Unfortunately, there are still lingering and persisting skepticisms regarding Shockwave Therapy’s effectiveness. In this blog, we’ll be debunking 4 of the most common myths surrounding Shockwave Therapy. If you’ve been second-guessing and wondering if you should try it out, we hope this helps!

Let’s begin!

Myth #1: It is Invasive

The definition of invasive in the healthcare field refers to any treatment that involves opening or breaching the skin layer. This means it has to be administered via incision or insertion of an instrument.

Shockwave therapy involves no such thing. The procedure usually begins with the health practitioner first applying gel to the surface of the treatment area. They place a probe over it, which will focus the soundwaves emitted by a machine, and voila! The waves permeate through the skin and into the treatment area, no cuts or incisions needed.

Myth #2: It Takes a Lot of Time

Although the procedures and the sessions may vary, Shockwave Therapy doesn’t really take up that much time. In fact, most sessions take less than an hour.

Of course, to maximize the effects of the treatment, health practitioners will require follow-up sessions––with the number depending on the diagnosis and severity. While the number of treatment sessions you will need depends on your body’s response, it’s not at all comparable to the time it takes to recover from traditional methods. A few hours every few days or weeks is nothing compared to months of rehabilitation or a lifetime of medication.

Myth #3: Shockwave Therapy Is Similar to Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy––normally the treatment for cancer––makes use of high-intensity waves, which can include X-rays and radio waves, to name a few. These can be harmful to the body in cases of extreme exposure.

Under no circumstance does Shockwave Therapy use radiation. Soundwaves aren’t made of electromagnetic energy, but mechanical energy, the pressure and density changes in the air. This makes it much safer than radiation therapy.

Myth #4: It Isn’t Suitable for Older Adults

Unlike surgery, which requires a baseline level of health, Shockwave Therapy can be used on anyone. This is because it has very little risk involved and is entirely non-invasive.

Arthritis, for instance, is one of the most common chronic conditions experienced by older adults and it specifically causes severe distress in the joints. Shockwave Therapy has been used to help hundreds if not thousands of seniors revitalize their joints and restore mobility.

Final Words

And there you have it!

We hope this blog has helped resolve any lingering doubts you may have about Shockwave Therapy. If you wish to further understand the treatment and how it addresses chronic pain, feel free to contact us at (360) 575-8897!

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Knee pain is one of the most common joint conditions in the world. It affects roughly 25% of adults, and its prevalence has significantly increased—over 65% in the last 2 decades alone.

Though people of all ages can sustain some type of knee pain in their lifetime, it’s usually older adults who are more susceptible. Why? It’s because the protective tissue in the knee that supports the joint, aka cartilage, naturally degrades with age.

Besides the elderly, other groups may also be at risk of knee pain. These include people who regularly participate in high-impact sports, those with weight issues or underlying health conditions such as arthritis, gout, and infections, as well as women—specifically those who are pregnant or have recently undergone labor.

Our knees are crucial to our overall mobility and ability to perform our daily tasks. Knee pain may grow worse over time, but early treatment can help greatly—which is why it’s so important to understand this condition and its causes.

About the Knee

The knee is one of the most stressed joints in the body. It absorbs a lot of regular shocks due to commonplace activities such as walking, jumping, and running. Because of this, it has a unique structure.

Unlike the other joints in the body, which only involve two bones moving against each other, the knee is comprised of three parts:

● The tibia (shin bone)

● The femur (thigh bone)

● The patella (kneecap)

To help regulate the tension between these parts, there is also a protective layer of cartilage that absorbs the shocks generated by our movements. Knee pain occurs when the cartilage is worn down and unable to cushion the knee.

Symptoms & Causes

Due to the structure of the knee, symptoms of knee pain can vary. The most obvious way to tell, of course, is a feeling of weakness and instability in your knee when you move it.

The other symptoms often consist of:

● Difficulty bending the knee

● Inability to extend the knee

● Redness

● Swelling

● Popping or crunching sounds

● Shifting weight to the opposite knee and foot

The causes of knee pain can also vary but generally fall under a few broad categories. Most cases of knee pain stem from injuries, mechanical problems, and medical conditions like arthritis and gout.

Here are some of the other common causes of knee pain:

Mechanical Problems

● Loose Body – Because of injuries or damages to the knee, there are instances when small fragments of bone or cartilage get loose and move freely in the joint space. When these fragments get caught in flexion or extension movements, they may cause sudden pain. Joint mobility can decline drastically, ultimately leading to further damage to the articular cartilage.


● Iliotibial band syndrome – The iliotibial band is a tough band of tissue that connects the outer part of the knee to the hip. Iliotibial band syndrome occurs when overuse of the knee causes the band to tighten, making it rub against the outer part of the femur and causing the knee to swell.


● Dislocated kneecap – Usually occurring in the outer part of the knee, one experiences dislocated kneecaps when the triangular bone that encloses the patella moves out of place.


● Hip or foot pain – Responsible for stabilizing the body and knee joints when in motion, the hip and foot play significant roles in walking and running. When these get damaged, further stress is put on the knee joint to compensate, which causes discomfort and even pain.

Injuries

● Anterior Cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries – The ACL is a strong ligament that connects the thigh to the shin bone. It can be torn or sprained by participating in sports activities that involve sudden, pivoting movements, such as basketball, football, and skiing.


● Fractures – Everyone’s at risk of being involved in falls and accidents. And unfortunately, knee fractures are common outcomes of this.


● Torn meniscus – The meniscus is C-shaped cartilage that provides a cushion for the knee, absorbing shocks that occur between the femur and tibia when we walk, run, or jump. It gets torn when sudden twists occur within the knee while bearing weight.


● Knee bursitis – The bursae are small sacs of fluid that cushion the outer part of the knee joint, allowing the tendons and ligaments to move smoothly across the joint. Knee bursitis occurs when overuse, infections, or arthritis swells up these sacs.


● Patellar tendinitis – Occurs when the patellar tendon, the one responsible for connecting the shinbone to the thigh’s front muscles, experiences swelling and pain.

How We Treat Knee Pain

Here at First Choice Medical Center, our treatment for knee pain revolves around Regenerative Medicine, which makes use of the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Unlike surgery and medications that don’t promote long-term healing and even pose further health risks, regenerative medicine is science-backed and safe. In fact, it has recently made significant leaps in the field of orthopedics, sports medicine, and integrative physical medicine!

If you wish to learn more about our regenerative medicine treatments, click here.

And if you’re currently suffering from knee pain, and wish to get back to doing the things you love the most, living a healthy lifestyle without having to risk surgery and other harmful drugs, you can schedule a consultation by clicking here.

FIRST CHOICE MEDICAL CENTER

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Our mission is to restore spinal and joint function in a medically integrated clinic by using cutting-edge regenerative therapies and functional rehabilitation.


We specialize in chronic cases such as neck and back pain, headaches, and peripheral neuropathy, knee and shoulder pain.

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Longview, WA 98632

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© 2022 | FIRST CHOICE MEDICAL CENTER

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Our mission is to restore spinal and joint function in a medically integrated clinic by using cutting-edge regenerative therapies and functional rehabilitation.

We specialize in chronic cases such as neck and back pain, headaches, and peripheral neuropathy, knee and shoulder pain.

OUR HEAD CLINIC

1157 3rd Avenue #145

Longview, WA 98632

Our hours of operation are Mondays to Thursdays from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM

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© 2024 | FIRST CHOICE MEDICAL CENTER | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.