34 | www. Char l es tonPhys i c i ans . com | www.Hea l thL i nksChar l es ton . com For people experiencing chronic pain in their extremities, shockwave therapy offers a safe and innovative option that includes the benefits of short treatment time, quick recovery and no side effects. Also called extracorporeal pulse activation technology, shockwave therapy, which is approved by the Food and Drug Administration, is a noninvasive technology that helps alleviate acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain. It offers an alternative to surgery, an injection or medicine with no anesthesia, no downtime and no scarring. The treatment delivers acoustic pressure waves applied through a wand directly into your areas of pain, converting to heat once it reaches your deeper layers of tissue to repair damage, relieve pain and restore function. Stewart Williamson B.S., D.C., of Charleston Chiropractic Center, has been using state-of-the-art shockwave technology for more than seven years. He utilizes the Storz Medical CuraMedix OrthoPulse model, which emits a radial pulse that sounds like a small jackhammer, converting mechanical energy into a small sound wave. Dr. Williamson uses shockwave therapy to treat rotator cuff and shoulder injuries, plantar fasciitis, low back pain and tennis and golf elbow. “I’ve had tremendous results,” he said. Dr. Williamson once received the shockwave therapy treatment himself for turf toe, and it worked so well that he bought the machine for Charleston Chiropractic Center. SHOCKWAVE THERAPY: AN ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY USING NATURAL HEALING PROCESSES Shockwave therapy typically involves performing one or two treatments a week; the healing process can take up to 12 weeks. By Colin McCandless
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