A Chiropractor’s Guide to Treating Common Musculoskeletal Issues
Welcome to the first post in our new series spotlighting the cutting-edge treatment modalities we offer at Pro Chiropractic in Bozeman and Belgrade!
As an avid outdoorsman and active care chiropractor in Bozeman, I have seen firsthand the wear and tear that an active lifestyle can put on the body. Whether it is summiting Hyalite or skiing the ridge at Bridger Bowl, you don’t have to deal with nagging pain on your next adventure. Let’s look at shockwave therapy and I will breakdown why it is my favorite modality, and one of the most effective soft tissue therapies on the market. Commonly used in treatment of chronic issues, including plantar fasciitis, Golfer’s/Tennis elbow, tendinopathies, post op scar tissue formation, and much more.
Why Shockwave Therapy Matters in Bozeman’s Active Community
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment modality in which percussive waves travel from a transmitter head to the target tissues. These percussive waves penetrate healthy, viable tissue and impact densified and irritated tissue, often what is driving your pain. Similar to a body builder creating microtrauma to build back bigger, stronger muscles, shockwave creates microtrauma with the goal of building back stronger, healthier tissues. It can be applied throughout the body, and is effectively used on muscles, tendons, ligaments, and even scar tissue.
Are you a climber with stubborn elbow and forearm pain? Maybe you’ve looked into injection therapy or are tired of popping anti-inflammatories before your warmup routine. You likely have irritation of either your flexor or extensor tendons, caused by the high demand of lifting your bodyweight repeatedly up the face. Shockwave therapy is a great option to address the cause of your pain and help you build back even stronger.
Are you a trail runner but that heel pain slows you down? Can’t find the right shoes to take that pain away? Often plantar fasciitis is a product of repetitive load and either poor support or unforgiving terrain. Before you try that next pair of shoes, give shockwave a try, you may be amazed!
I personally have seen the effectiveness of shockwave therapy in treating a mild case of calcific tendinosis. Due to improper compensation and repetitive abuse, my gluteus medius was beginning to develop calcium deposits, hindering the muscle’s ability to contract and stretch. Through half a dozen treatments with shockwave and addressing some compromised biomechanics, I was back on the track in no time. Since my own personal success and countless cases successfully managed with shockwave, I am a firm believer in this powerful modality.
Understanding Shockwave Therapy: The Basics
- Shockwave therapy is powerful due to its non-invasive nature, and low impact on current training plans. It can be used in the middle of your competition season and provides for little to no interruption in training.
- What it does: Shockwave therapy stimulates increased blood flow, tissue regeneration, and even stem cell proliferation. As mentioned before, shockwave treatments aim to create microtrauma within targeted tissues, breaking down densifications and jumpstarting the healing process.
- Safety and evidence overview: Shockwave has been used for many years and in many applications. Due to its non-invasive nature shockwave is inherently very safe. Following treatment, some mild redness or soreness may be present following treatment but even that is quite rare.
Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis: Getting Back on Your Feet
Condition overview:
Plantar fasciitis is irritation of the plantar fascia, a band of dense connective tissue in the bottom of the foot that helps to create the “arch” or “tripod” shaped shock absorber in each foot. Often plantar fasciitis manifests as pain in the bottom of the foot or at the heel, usually worst in the morning or following long periods of inactivity. In order to determine if shockwave is appropriate, a full foot evaluation, including a gait scan and functional assessment will be performed.
Causes vary widely but most commonly plantar fasciitis can be traced back to improper footwear, repetitive factors such as trail running or frequent jumping, and standing for extended periods on unforgiving surfaces like that hard kitchen floor or concrete shop floor.
-
Shockwave treatments have shown effective management of plantar fasciitis in a huge way, significantly outperforming other therapies such as ultrasound or low level laser.
-
Treatment protocol: Typical treatment protocol for lasting relief from plantar fascia irritation is 6 treatments, each lasting 10-15 minutes. Each treatment includes re-evaluation of tissue tone and functionality and applying shockwave to the target tissues. Often, with the addition of manual therapies, relief starts after the first 1-2 appointments.
-
Whether you notice foot pain while getting ready for work in the morning or while out on the trail, shockwave therapy can likely help!
Shockwave Therapy for Epicondylitis: Easing Elbow Pain for Everyday Athletes
Condition overview:
Epicondylitis is simply the medical term for golfer’s and tennis elbow. These two conditions present very similarly, the main difference being the location of symptoms. Epicondylitis is best described as irritation of the tendons found in the forearm, often caused by repetitive use through climbing, playing golf/tennis, or manual labor jobs that demand a lot of strength from the hands and arms.
-
Shockwave therapy has been shown in research and clinical care to help reduce pain and improve function in epicondylitis cases.
-
Treatment protocol: Due to the wide variation in tissue depth and level of injury, treatment protocols can vary between 4-10 treatments. With the application of shockwave therapy in conjunction with other manual therapies, resolution is well within reach.
-
By treating the connective tissue in the forearm, patients with epicondylitis can expect to see increased grip strength, increased stamina for hand and arm movements, and significant decrease if not resolution of forearm pain.
Beyond the Basics: Shockwave Therapy for Other Common Conditions
-
Achilles tendinopathy: For all you trail runners and ski bums, don’t put off that Achilles tendon pain any longer! Shockwave is great for addressing that overuse injury and you will quickly notice less discomfort and better ankle mobility.
-
Rotator cuff tendinopathy: Drywaller, kayaker, or powerlifter? If you’re experiencing pain and weakness in the rotator cuff muscles, shockwave may be just the thing for you! Let’s take care of that shoulder before it gets any worse!
-
Calcific tendinitis: I know the feeling! With the application of shockwave therapy and biomechanical training, you don’t have to deal with it!
What to Expect: Practical Insights from Clinical Care
-
Once we’ve determined shockwave is right for your condition, treatments are straightforward. The typical treatment is 10-15 minutes and will include assessment of progress, application of shockwave, and any other clinically indicated modalities.
-
I often incorporate manual therapies such as active release or soft tissue manipulation to compliment shockwave and achieve lasting recovery as efficiently as possible.
Who it’s for:
Active adults and children in Bozeman and Belgrade! If you have stubborn pain that has not been responsive to care or maybe it just drives you crazy, shockwave may be just the thing for you! With little to no impact on activity and short but effective treatment plans, shockwave is a convenient therapy for anyone looking to get out of pain and return to their full potential.
Your treatment plan including shockwave therapy will be tailored specifically to you, with your history and goals in mind. There are no “one size fits all” treatment plans in physical medicine, so set up an appointment and we can start working toward your goals today!
Don’t let chronic connective tissue injuries slow you down! Shockwave therapy is available in Bozeman and Belgrade and the expert team at Pro Chiropractic is here to help you achieve pain free movement. Whether it’s preparing for an athletic event or feeling better on the jobsite, shockwave therapy is a powerful tool to incorporate in your treatment!
Get out and enjoy what Montana has to offer, pain free! Schedule your evaluation today at prochiromt.com or by calling (406) 219-2462.
Stay tuned for the next in our series—more on modalities like PEMF, Graston scraping, and beyond.