Knee pain can stop you in your tracks, making every step feel like a struggle. Whether it’s the aching from arthritis or the sharp pain from an injury, it’s hard to enjoy life when your knees are holding you back.
If you’re tired of relying on pain medication or dreading the thought of surgery, shockwave therapy for knee pain may be the reprieve you’ve been searching for. This painless treatment is gaining popularity for its ability to target pain at its root and stimulate healing. It’s revolutionizing the way people approach knee pain as it delivers relief without the need for aggressive drugs or long recovery times.
In this in-depth guide, we’re here to take you through the inside scoop on shockwave therapy for knee pain, how it works, the advantages, and how you decide if it’s for you. We’ll then look into the science behind its effectiveness so you can be certain of this promising treatment for your knee pain.
The Basics Of Knee Pain
Millions of people all over the world suffer from knee pain, which can be due to numerous causes. In most of them, knee pain is due to wear and tear, trauma, or joint and surrounding tissue inflammation. The most frequent causes are arthritis, ligament sprain, tendonitis, and bursitis.
For instance, osteoarthritis, which affects over 30 million adults in the United States, is one of the most frequent causes of knee pain and can lead to disabling stiffness and swelling.
These conditions are not simply inconvenient. They can significantly impact daily life. Walking, climbing stairs, or even standing for long periods of time can become impossible. Pain can escalate over time, so it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain an active, pain-free lifestyle.
There has never been a greater need for successful treatments. Medication or surgical procedures are often on the agenda, but there are so many who seek non-surgical treatments that provide long-term gains without side effects. That’s where shockwave therapy on the knee comes in. It’s an optimistic treatment that targets the cause of pain with the aim of restoring function and movement.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a painless and harmless procedure that involves the application of high-energy sound waves to stimulate healing in the body. It may sound intense, but the process is actually quite simple.
The session involves the use of a device to deliver sound waves into the damaged tissue of the knee. This raises blood flow, breaks up scar tissue, and causes the growth of new healthy tissue.
The primary aim of shockwave treatment for knee pain is to decrease pain, inflammation, and stimulate the body’s own healing process. It is pain-free, drug-free, and surgery-free procedure. Plus, no downtime is needed, and no anesthesia is required.
This therapy has been used to manage many musculoskeletal conditions for decades, including plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, and calcific shoulder tendinopathy. Its application in the management of knee pain, particularly of osteoarthritis and patellar tendinopathy, has gained huge popularity in the recent past.
Research clearly states that shockwave therapy significantly reduces pain in individuals, and hence, it is becoming an extremely popular treatment for painful patients.
What Does a Typical Session Look Like?
Shockwave treatment for knee pain is easy and effective and only requires 10-15 minutes per session. Here’s how to do it:
Preparation
The painful area of the knee is prepared and marked with a gel. The gel aids the sound waves in entering the tissue more conveniently.
Shockwave Therapy
A device is used to deliver high-energy sound waves into the knee joint. The sound waves penetrate deep into tissues, stimulating flow and triggering cellular repair.
Tissue Stimulation
Sound waves dissolve scar tissue and damaged tissue so that the body can repair itself. This will promote new blood vessel growth, which can eliminate pain and inflammation.
Post-Treatment
You will not have much or no downtime after the session. You may be a little sore for a couple of days, but it’s normally manageable. It will take a few sessions (typically 3-6), depending on the condition.
What makes shockwave therapy stand out from other treatment options is that it is non-invasive. Unlike injections or surgery, there are no needles or cuts needed. You can resume your daily life activities within a short while of each session, and there is virtually no risk of side effects.
Shockwave therapy targets the underlying causes of knee pain. By addressing these, it aids in speeding up the body’s natural healing process, offering lasting relief.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain
Shockwave therapy in knee pain has many benefits. Some of the most significant benefits are:
Non-surgical treatment
One of the best things is that shockwave therapy isn’t surgical and does not require needles. That means there is no requirement for anesthesia, and you can simply carry on afterward.
Efficient pain relief
Scientific research has demonstrated that shockwave therapy reduces the intensity of pain significantly.
Improves movement
Through tissue regeneration and blood flow stimulation, shockwave therapy induces healing in the injured knee joint, enhancing overall mobility. It is particularly helpful for individuals with difficulty in performing simple movements such as walking or going up and down stairs.
No side effects
Unlike most pain medications, which tend to produce undesirable side effects, shockwave therapy poses extremely low risk. Individuals typically experience little or no discomfort, lasting just a moment.
Quick recovery
Recovery using shockwave therapy is minimal. Compared to surgery, where recovery is weeks or even months of rehab, shockwave therapy heals much quicker, so you can get back to your everyday activities faster.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
If you’re experiencing knee pain, shockwave therapy may be the solution you’ve been searching for. It’s an excellent form of treatment for a variety of knee issues, such as osteoarthritis, patellar tendinopathy, and other ligament and soft tissue injuries. Whether you’re experiencing ongoing chronic pain or you’re recovering from an injury, shockwave therapy will have you on your feet in a flash.
However, not everyone is a good candidate for this form of treatment. People who have certain medical conditions, such as ongoing infections, tumors, or are pregnant, may not be a good candidate. People with pacemakers or other implanted medical devices should not have shockwave therapy done either.
The best method to find out if shockwave therapy for knee pain is appropriate for you is by seeing a medical doctor. They will assess your condition, examine your medical history, and assist you in making a wise decision on whether or not this treatment is perfect for the recovery process.
At Physio Logic NYC, our team will guide you through the process and help determine if shockwave therapy is the best solution for your specific case.
Frequently Asked Questions
How soon can you expect to see results?
The effects of shockwave therapy become apparent within a few weeks. Everyone begins feeling a difference after 3-5 sessions. Full recovery, though, will take longer, based on the severity of your condition.
Is shockwave therapy safe for knee pain?
Yes, shockwave therapy is safe when performed by a trained practitioner. It’s a non-operative treatment with low risk and no long-term side effects. Minor discomfort following treatment is to be expected but usually resolves within a couple of days.
How many sessions would I need?
The number of sessions depends upon how severely your knee hurts. 3-5 sessions, spaced out a week from one another, are typically what most people require. Your treating professional will tailor the treatment plan to your case.
Does it hurt?
The treatment is slightly uncomfortable, but it is well tolerated. The majority of patients indicate that the feeling is a mild tingling or tapping sensation, which disappears as soon as the treatment is finished.
Are there any side effects
Side effects are rare but can include redness or swelling at the site of treatment. In some people, there can be mild soreness for a day or two after treatment.
The Bottom Line
Shockwave therapy for knee pain is a new, non-surgical treatment that brings permanent relief without surgery or medication. If you’re suffering from osteoarthritis, tendonitis, or other knee-related issues, this treatment can be the solution to your problem. With pain relief, increased mobility, and stimulation of healing, shockwave treatment allows you to get back to the active life you’ve been missing.
Prior to undergoing treatment, it is always advisable to see a medical professional to ensure that it is the most suitable option for you. With high success and hardly any side effects, however, shockwave therapy can be your passage to a pain-free life.
Here at Physio Logic NYC, our team is ready to assist you in exploring this treatment option. With a high success rate and minimal side effects, shockwave therapy could be your ticket to pain-free living. Schedule an appointment now.