Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Cold Laser Therapy

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.