In recent years new therapies have been implemented
by alternative medical practitioners to help manage and to alleviate their
patients' physical pain. Here at Academy Massage, we are committed to put into
practice advances in technologies to help you, our valued clients, enjoy a
better and more active quality of life.
One such therapy is Extracorporeal Shock Wave
Therapy. "Extra-corporeal" means "outside the body" and
refers to the fact that the shockwaves are generated outside the body by the
device. A shockwave is an intense, but very short energy wave traveling
faster than the speed of sound. ESWT employs these shockwaves to treat
chronic, painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system, particularly
those problems that occur where major connective tissues attach to bone. The
body responds by increasing metabolic activity around the site of pain. This repeated
shockwave to the affected or injured area stimulates and accelerates the
healing process, creating new blood flow into the area. It is this increased
circulation that promotes tissue healing.
Conditions that have shown beneficial results
through ESWT include: muscle pain and injuries, joint injuries, Achilles
tendonitis or tendinosis, plantar fasciosis or fasciitis, connective tissue
pain and degeneration and stress fractures.
Academy Massage advises that the number
of Shockwave Therapy treatments varies depending on the severity of the injury.
Our trained therapists will assess your condition and provide you with an
estimate of the amount of treatments that has been found to be clinically
appropriate to effectively treat your condition, and prevent it from
returning.
Another treatment that has proven
effective in the reduction of acute, chronic or post-operative inflammatory
pain is cold laser
therapy. As with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, Cold Laser Therapy is a
relatively new technology when compared to alternative therapies like
acupuncture, chiropractic, and physical therapy. Cold lasers (sometimes called
Low Level Lasers (LLL) or soft lasers) are safe and the procedure itself is
quick - treatments are generally 1-2 minutes or less per area and most
conditions require approximately 3 to 4 areas. The treatment is also painless
as cold lasers do not generate heat. Cold lasers target acupuncture trigger
points along with applying a broad coverage of tissue and bone with red light
photons to reduce pain and accelerate healing. When laser light interacts with
tissue, it causes certain photochemical reactions to occur which stimulate
natural biological processes. Many of these reactions have beneficial effects
on the body, which help to control pain and promote the healing process.
Arthritis, tennis elbow, heel spurs, Achilles tendonitis, knee and back
discomfort, among many other painful and debilitating conditions, have
benefited from cold laser therapy. Healing time is dependent upon how chronic
the condition is. While some patients with lesser injuries feel immediate improvement,
more serious problems may require anywhere from 18–25 visits. Acute injuries
generally require 8–10 visits.
Daily visits may be required at the beginning of
your treatment schedule, but as your condition improves visits should decrease
accordingly.
Academy Massage is pleased to include these two technologies
as part of our successful alternative healing program. We invite you to visit
our office and discover for yourself the therapeutic value of Extracorporeal
Shock Wave Therapy and Cold Laser Therapy.
