I (Dr. Gerhart) have suffered with chronic low-level nagging pain in my neck, shoulders, midback, low back and legs for many years.  I have invested thousands in deep tissue massage, Rolfing, Gua Sha adhesion release, and every other therapy you can think of.  While most have helped, nothing has reversed the scar tissue & adhesions to create the deep, long-lasting improvements I really wanted.  

I had a large collection of adhesions, scar tissue, and tender trigger points.  My fascia and muscle layers were glued together into a nasty mess (red cross hatch lines in graphic below) resulting in chronic pain. Healthy muscle & fascia fibers are in blue.

Scar tissue can pinch, twist, squeeze nerves triggering chronic pain. Scar tissue itself can be up to a 1000X more pain sensitive than healthy tissue.   Enter Pulsed Wave Therapy (aka Radial Shock Wave Therapy) which works by:
 

• Signaling our cells to turn on major healing and repair pathways via mechanobiology – an exciting new field of research.
• Turning off chronic pain and inflammation cycles to Close the Pain Gate
• Age reversing effect via Stem Cell formation & activation for youthful vitality in our stiff, tight, injured areas including cartilage regeneration.
• Can even reverse calcification in tendons, ligaments, and muscles especially in the shoulder.

• Activating revolutionary cell communication via mechanotransduction
• Creating new bone & blood vessels to support youthful muscles, fascia, ligaments, and tendons.
• Increases cell energy for healing
• Releasing Substance P – a key neurotransmitter responsible for turning off pain

Personally, I have experienced more pain relief & softening of hard knots than I thought possible with my initial therapy sessions.  I can’t wait to get more.

Our Pulsed Wave Therapy unit has FDA approval for a large number of conditions

Each therapy session takes about 20 minutes to treat one area for a fee of 79.  Adding laser therapy if needed adds a synergistic even more profound healing effect for a fee of 97.  Just 4-6 sessions typically needed to effectively treat a problem area for lasting results.

The goal during the therapy is a little mild pain for lots of gain as the sound waves activate our cellular healing. Possible temporary after-effects: mild swelling, redness, light bruising (MUCH less than Gua Sha), & soreness after treatment (esp. first treatment). Use of heat, stretching, and light exercise after is helpful.   Add ice only if soreness is more than mild.

Reference: International Journal of Surgery Volume 24, Part B, December 2015, Pages 147-153
Shock wave as biological therapeutic tool: From mechanical stimulation to recovery and healing, through mechanotransduction