How important is the power level of a shockwave therapy device? There’s a lot of misinformation on the topic, so we wanted to clear this up and offer clarification on how much power you need for truly effective treatment.

Radial shockwave therapy (also known as pressure wave therapy) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT, also known as focused shockwave therapy) give varying levels of pressure. But how much do you really need?

The answer might surprise you.

“The biggest misnomer out there is that power is most important,” Dr. Robert Gordon, Shockwave Canada’s medical consultant who has been practicing shockwave therapy for more than 20 years, says.

“The right power is what’s important. Not the most power.”

Let’s compare the pressure of shockwave device to the speed of a car. If you drive a Mercedes-Benz, it might be able to reach 318 km/h. But are you ever going to drive that fast? Most of the time, you’ll be staying within the speed limit.

It’s the same with shockwave therapy machines. While our machines at Shockwave Canada can and do provide immense power (most go up to 5 bareff), it’s incredibly rare to go higher than 2.6 bareff in the actual application.

What’s more important is that the pressure you’re applying is right for the patient and right for the treatment.

“Whether it’s for muscles, tendons, bones, or otherwise, we supply a lot of energy in extremely accurate and deliberate machines,” Dr. Gordon says.

This, too, is key — the accuracy of your power. If you have a lot of power but cannot focus it (picture an uncontrollable pressure washer, for example) it will not be effective.

How can you confirm if your machine (or prospective machine, if you’re researching) has the right pressure for you? Quality has a lot to do with it.

Some shockwave therapy machines on the market simply don’t have the technology to create this kind of focus.

We can only speak to the Storz Medical devices, but part of the reason why they are so effective is the quality of the technology. They are Swiss-made and give the proper wave at the proper energy and the proper frequency, making these machines some of the most effective on the market.

Beyond the machine itself, Storz also provides a versatile range of accessories that can help alter the delivery of the wave to maximize treatment for patients.

The handpieces from Storz have the controls right on them, so practitioners do not have to look away from the patient to adjust pressure, so it is safer for the patients and more effective for the operator.

Pressure of Shockwave Canada Machines

If you’re curious about the different pressures between machines from Shockwave Canada, here is how it breaks down:

  • MASTERPULS® Ultra MP50:
    • Pressure: max. 4 bareff
    • Frequency: 1 – 17 Hz, depending on pressure
    • Frequency with V-ACTOR® handpiece: 1 – 21 Hz
  • MASTERPULS® Ultra MP100:
    • Pressure: max. 5 bareff
    • Frequency: 1 – 21 Hz, depending on pressure
    • Frequency with V-ACTOR® handpiece: 1 – 50 Hz
  • MASTERPULS® Ultra MP200:
    • Pressure: max. 5 bareff
    • Frequency: 1 – 21 Hz, depending on pressure
    • Frequency with V-ACTOR® handpiece: 1 – 50 Hz
  • MASTERPULS® ONE:
    • Pressure: max. 2.7 bareff
    • Frequency: 6 – 18 Hz

Do you have any other questions about the pressure and power of shockwave machines? Share with us on social media. Shockwave Canada is on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

The devices offered by Shockwave Canada give you the right power, at the right frequency, at the right level for the patient and the treatment. Learn more about our shockwave therapy machines today. Call 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visit https://shockwavecanada.com/our-shockwave-therapy-machines/.