Living with chronic pain: When radial shockwave therapy becomes the appropriate next step

For many people living with chronic pain, daily activities can become difficult. While rest, physical therapy, and medications can help, some patients continue to experience lingering pain. 

Valley’s Integrative Medicine team is proud to offer radial shockwave therapy as an option for treating chronic pain.

What is radial shockwave therapy?

Radial shockwave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses pressure waves or acoustic therapy to influence healing and tissue regeneration. It is used as an adjunctive therapy to other treatments patients may be doing or that have failed. 

The goal is to support the body’s healing process in three key ways:

• Reducing pain and inflammation
• Restoring healthy myofascial tissue (tissue surrounding the muscles)
• Promoting tissue regeneration

Each treatment is specific to the patient and their condition.

What conditions can it treat?

Radial shockwave therapy is designed to treat all orthopedic conditions. This can include:

• Chronic pain and ongoing aches
• Heel and foot pain, including plantar fasciitis
• Hip pain and injuries
• Knee pain and stiffness
• Muscle pain, tightness, and injuries
• Shoulder pain and stiffness, including frozen shoulder
• Back and neck pain and other spine-related conditions
• Jaw pain and TMJ (temporomandibular joint) problems
• Tendon pain and injuries, including Achilles tendon problems
• Tennis elbow and other elbow pain 

How long is shockwave treatment?

Radial shockwave therapy is typically provided once a week for six weeks for most conditions as an initial treatment period. Each treatment takes less than 20 minutes. The treatment plan may be adjusted based on your individual condition and response to care.

The initial goal is to achieve approximately a 30% improvement in pain; while helping you return to your normal activities and improve function. 

Who can receive radial shockwave therapy?

This treatment is variable in age and population. It is often used for a wide range of the athletic population but can treat non-athletes as well. We treat patients 16 and older. 

Why should patients choose Valley for radial shockwave therapy?

We are proud to keep up with the latest technologies and protocols, always practicing by gold standard protocols. 

Radial shockwave therapy is self-referred, and our team is able to co-treat with a chiropractic adjustment. 

This treatment is offered at two convenient locations in Ridgewood and Montvale, New Jersey. 

For more information, please visit ValleyHealth.com/ShockwaveTherapy. To schedule an appointment, please call 201-446-9839.