The shockwave solution and the body’s innate healing power

Revolutionizing pain management from above-down, inside-out

Pain management stands at an intriguing crossroads in a time where health care is increasingly influenced by innovation. As the opioid crisis looms large, casting a worrisome shadow over traditional pain relief methodologies, there’s a growing call for methods that are not only effective but also safe, noninvasive and aligned with the body’s inherent capability to heal. Shockwave technology emerges as an answer, offering holistic pain management solutions that recognize and harness the body’s innate healing mechanisms: healing from above-down, inside-out. 

The challenges with conventional pain management

Contemporary pain management methods, dominated by medications, injections and surgeries, while effective, come laden with challenges. The opioid crisis provides stark evidence, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pinpointing a staggering 75.4% of drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved opioids.  

While less addictive, injections and surgeries present their risks: potential complications, extended recovery times and overwhelming medical costs. What’s more, they often provide only temporary relief without addressing the root causes, merely masking the pain while underlying issues persist. 

In this setting, shockwave technology enters the arena as a holistic and revolutionary approach. 

Shockwave technology: Harnessing the body’s natural healing potential

Born from technology meant for kidney stone treatments, shockwave therapy has been adapted innovatively for pain relief. This method administers waves of energy into the body, initiating a biological process called mechanotransduction. This not only sparks the body’s inherent repair systems — boosting blood flow, speeding up cellular rejuvenation, activating and recruiting resident stem cells and fostering new blood vessel growth — but also aids in modulating inflammation, a frequent pain source. 

Inflammation: The silent adversary

Central to our understanding of pain and its management is the often-underestimated role of inflammation. It’s a double-edged sword — while an essential part of the body’s protective response to injury or harmful stimuli, prolonged inflammation can hinder healing, exacerbating pain and leading to chronic complications. In essence, inflammation becomes a barrier to the body’s inherent healing mechanisms. To truly heal, we need to address and modulate inflammation. When we do this, we accelerate the body’s natural recovery process. 

Kinds of shockwave technology

Understanding shockwave therapy requires some knowledge of its types, each with its unique mechanism and application.  

The three primary kinds of shockwave include electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric.  

Electrohydraulic shockwaves: Generated using an electric spark in water. For decades, this was used for conditions like kidney stones but has been effectively reimagined for musculoskeletal issues, especially as a manufacturer has modified their devices to treat both with a focused and unfocused wave. When researching, ask about the width and depth of coverage, as one boasts a coverage area of 7cm x 12cm to ensure the injured cells receive treatment. 

Electromagnetic shockwaves: Produced by a rapidly changing magnetic field, they have broad applications in pain management. These typically deliver small amounts of energy to a small focal area. 

Piezoelectric shockwaves: Originating from the piezoelectric effect, these shockwaves are created when voltage is applied to crystals through the expansion and contraction of the crystals. 

Confusion in the marketplace

For a device to produce a true shockwave, it is characterized by a single, mostly positive pressure pulse followed by a comparatively small tensile wave. This is important because radial devices often call themselves shockwave devices. This is misleading. Radial devices produce low–intensity pressure waves. They differ from a true shockwave as they are acoustic pneumatic pulses with a low steeping effect and slow rise time with comparatively large negative pressure (tensile wave). The waves are shallow and have the highest energy and pressure located directly at the applicator’s surface.  

A leap forward: Patented progress

In October 2023, a shockwave device received a patent that recognizes the dual advantages of effective pain management and prevention against opioid addiction. It’s a claim substantiated by continual research and development in the field.^1,2  

Treating the cause

Shockwave technology’s beauty isn’t just in its simplicity and versatility — it also aligns seamlessly with the chiropractic belief in the body’s intrinsic healing capacity. It extends beyond the constraints of manual adjustments to treat the root causes of musculoskeletal pain potentially.  

An integrative approach

Shockwave therapy, while promising, is not a stand–alone miracle solution. Its efficacy is amplified as part of an overarching, integrative pain management strategy. This holistic viewpoint resonates deeply with the chiropractic tradition, emphasizing the body’s remarkable self-healing abilities. 

Chiropractic professionals should keep updated on shockwave technology’s advancements, ensuring they offer their patients the most effective and safe treatment choices.  

Embracing a future of natural healing

Health care’s future trajectory points toward a noninvasive, drug-free and holistic approach to pain management, with shockwave technology leading the way. With its long-lasting effects, easy operation and quick treatment times, this is a win-win for all. Shockwave therapy is more than just a treatment. It’s a game-changer, enhancing our holistic principles and offering patients more than just relief — it provides a quicker path to recovery. It’s important to note credible shockwave companies are actively sponsoring studies to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety compared to using opioids. In addition, the research is out there and recent studies are opening minds to new ways.³ 

For DCs and patients alike, this innovation marks a new era — one where pain relief is not just about managing symptoms, but also about fostering overall well-being, enhancing quality of life, and — most importantly — doing no harm. The shockwave revolution is here, redefining the contours of therapeutic possibility. Are we ready to ride the wave? 

Shockwave is used to treat a variety of conditions, including: 

• Plantar Fasciitis 
• Tendinitis 
• Calcific Tendinitis 
• Myofascial Pain Syndromes 
• Scar Tissue 
• Spinal Decompression 
• Muscle Strains and Sprains 
• Chronic Neck Pain 
• Jumper’s Knee (Patellar Tendinitis) 
• Shin Splints 
• Frozen Shoulder (Adhesive Capsulitis) 

MATT DIDURO, DC, offers specialized neuropathy and chiropractic care at ATL Pain Institute in Alpharetta and Atlanta, Georgia. With more than 29 years in health care, DiDuro is a former director of Life University’s Rehab Center and an advocate for shockwave treatments. Reach him at drdiduro@gmail.com, 855-285-7246 or softwavetrt.com.

References

1. Stearns H, et al. Using Pre-operative low intensity vestibular shockwave therapy reduces opioid use post-vestibulectomy. Journal of Sexual Medicine. June 2023;20(3).Oxford Academic. https://academic.oup.com/jsm/article/20/Supplement_3/qdad068.011/7208355. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
2. Liu K, et al. Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in chronic low back pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 632 patients. Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research. 2023;18(455). BMC website. https://josr-online.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13018-023-03943-x. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.
3. Schroder A, et al. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy in the Management of Sports Medicine Injuries. 2021;20(6):298-305. PubMed website. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34099607/. Accessed Nov. 8, 2023.