CINCINNATI (WKRC) – A new kind of shockwave therapy, known as SoftWave Tissue Regeneration, is providing relief for those suffering from chronic pain.
Adrienne Custer, who has been dealing with hip pain for the past couple of years, recently underwent the therapy at Ohio’s Wave Physical Therapy and Pilates.
“For the last couple of years, I’ve been sidelined with hip pain,” said Custer. “I actually felt like I was stuck sometimes in a sitting position. I would really have a hard time getting up at all.”
Sarah Crawford, a physical therapist at Wave Physical Therapy and Pilates, explained how the therapy works.
“We apply shockwaves to a targeted tissue, and it helps your own natural healing process,” said Crawford. “It just does what our body would do in the best-case scenario.”
An animation provided by SoftWave shows that the waves trigger a response by working against inflammation and drawing new cells to the area in pain.
A recent National Library of Medicine study indicates that this therapy, which feels like a rubber band snapping on your hand, is effective in pain relief and wound healing. However, it works best when combined with other movement treatments such as Pilates and physical therapy.
“The data suggests 86% at long-term follow-up of 12 months,” said Crawford.
While it is not a miracle cure, Crawford mentioned that the therapy is now being researched as a treatment for other medical concerns helped by improved blood supply.
“It’s FDA approved to treat plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis, but the American Academy of Urologists just met this year to write a statement on SoftWave being a primary line of treatment for erectile dysfunction,” said Crawford.
As for Custer, she said that she can now get up pain-free. While physical therapy is covered by medical insurance plans, this therapy may be self-pay in some cases, costing about $100 per session.
