Pulse Wave Therapy (also known as acoustic wave technology) is a non-invasive and painless procedure that uses low-intensity acoustic waves to improve certain conditions that are caused by poor or reduced blood flow and circulatory atherosclerotic plaque formation resulting in blockages. These technologies can be used to improve blood flow by removing remove plaque build, stimulating the growth of new blood vessels, repairing damaged tissues, and reducing scar tissue.
What is Pulse Wave Therapy?
Pulse Wave Therapy encompasses two different technologies: Linear Wave Therapy, also known as Focused Shockwave Therapy, and Acoustic Pressure Wave Therapy, sometimes referred to as Radial Wave Therapy.
Depending on the condition being treated, the doctor may prescribe Linear, Radial, or a combination of the two. Linear Wave Therapy is typically used to treat deeper, more localized pain points such as tendonitis or chronic arthritis. Pulse Wave Therapy is also commonly used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, which can be treated by either technology, depending on the symptoms. It’s important to know the difference between these two technologies to understand which will better help your condition.
Linear and Radial Wave Therapy heal soft tissue injuries by targeting the body’s own healing process, using the energy waves to improve blood flow and stimulate the development of new blood vessels, a process known as angiogenesis. Both types of Wave Therapy can assist in breaking up or reducing old scar tissue from an injury.
What’s the Difference between Acoustic Wave Therapy and Focused Shockwave Therapy?
Our facility uses Acoustic Pressure Wave Therapy (APWT), also known as Radial Wave Therapy, to treat injuries or inflammation near the surface of the skin, such as gout, tennis elbow, bursitis, and plantar fasciitis. This technology uses low-intensity sound waves to accelerate the body’s healing process by stimulating blood flow and enhancing blood circulation to the damaged tissues. Radial pressure waves are the most impactful when closest to their source, and lose efficacy the further they have to travel. Acoustic Pressure Wave Therapy spreads to treat larger areas beneath the surface of the skin and has a slower impulse rate, and lower energy emission.
We also use Focused Shockwave Therapy (FST), also known as Linear Wave Therapy, to treat deeper injuries, such as chronic tendonitis or bursitis. This device uses energy waves produced by an electromagnetic pulse. Linear shockwaves can penetrate deeper into tissue and are most effective when targeting a very specific and precise area. Focused Shockwave Therapy utilizes a faster impulse and a high energy emission.
How to Treat Injuries Using Pulse Wave Therapy
Gout , a form of arthritis that commonly affects the joint at the base of the big toe, is a painful condition that occurs due to excess build-up of uric acid in the body. APWT can treat gout by providing the joint with enhanced blood flow, reducing inflammation, and improving the circulation of the joint.
Tennis Elbow, also referred to as Lateral Epicondylitis, is a repetitive strain injury that develops when the tendons used to maneuver your wrist are overloaded by repetitive motions, causing inflammation and strain in the affected forearm. APWT is used to increase blood flow to the area and enhancing the growth of new blood vessels.
Erectile Dysfunction is a condition in which a man is unable to maintain an erection for the duration of sexual intercourse. Pulse Wave Therapy is used to treat Erectile Dysfunction by sending acoustic energy waves into the erectile tissue and surrounding arteries to remove the built-up plaque from the penile and pudendal arteries and stimulating the growth of new arteries.
Summary: Pulse Wave Therapy
Pulse Wave Therapy can be used for many different injuries and conditions that are impacted by poor blood flow and circulation. Our facility is dedicated to finding the right treatment for you, depending on the nature of your condition. Flagstone Medical specializes in both Acoustic Wave and Linear Wave Therapies, which means we can use a combination of technologies to find the right course of treatment specific to your injury or dysfunction. To learn more about what is Pulse Wave Therapy and how it can help you, please call our office to discuss various treatment options.
