What Is Radial Pressure Wave (RPW) Therapy And What Does It Treat?
There are many different therapeutic techniques that can be used to address issues with the musculoskeletal system, which is the network of bones, muscles, and connective tissues within our body. One lesser-known, but highly effective treatment is known as Radial Pressure Wave therapy.
WHAT IS RADIAL PRESSURE WAVE THERAPY?
Radial Pressure Wave therapy, or RPW therapy for short, is a non-invasive treatment that is a popular alternative to surgical intervention. It is a type of shockwave therapy, and although it sounds frightening and potentially painful, it is being increasingly used to treat a range of disorders affecting the musculoskeletal system.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN RADIAL PRESSURE WAVE THERAPY TREAT?
RPW therapy has been shown to be effective at improving the symptoms of a variety of conditions, including:
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Achilles’ tendinopathy
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Acute muscle strains and tears
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Bone inflammation associated with osteoarthritis
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Calcific tendonitis
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Chronic stress fractures
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Lateral epicondylitis (better known as tennis elbow)
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Medial epicondylitis (better known as golfer’s elbow)
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Myofascial trigger points
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Patellar tendinosis
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Plantar fasciitis
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Retrocalcaneal bursitis>
HOW DOES RADIAL PRESSURE WAVE THERAPY WORK?
RPW therapy is very straightforward and entirely non-invasive. A special handheld applicator is applied to the target area using mild to moderate pressure. This applicator delivers these pressure waves directly into the skin, where they pass through it and penetrate several centimeters into the body. Once these pressure waves penetrate the cells in the body, they create oscillations in the tissues. These oscillations, or back and forth movements, stimulate your circulation, enabling more blood and nutrients to be delivered to the damaged area, promoting new cell growth and accelerating healing.
The treatment itself takes just a few minutes, although if you are having RPW treatment on a particularly large area, it may take a little longer. It’s normal to experience some discomfort as the pressure waves take effect, but many patients quickly acclimatize to this and can tolerate the sensation quite well. You’ll be able to go home immediately after your treatment and there is no downtime, meaning that you can get back to your usual activities right away.
How many sessions you will need will largely depend on how well your body responds to the treatment, but most patients can expect to be recommended to have one session every 4-7 days for around 6 sessions to achieve the optimal improvement in their symptoms. However, you may find that you start to notice some relief after your very first PRW session.
If you would like to find out more about Radial Pressure Wave therapy and how it could help you, or to schedule a consultation, please contact Valley Spinal Care in Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona by calling (602) 788-4200 or (602) 368-3578 today