In 2019, almost five million Canadians visited one of Canada’s 9,000 chiropractors. That’s approximately 16 per cent of the adult population. Over seven million Canadians are affected by chronic pain, two-thirds of which suffer moderate to severe back pain. It is no surprise then that many chiropractors treat patients with neck and back pain.
Shockwave therapy is ideal for chiropractors because it is a hands-on, non-invasive, drugless approach. Using acoustic pressure waves, chiropractors can use a shockwave device to target specific areas of the patient’s body to stimulate metabolism and circulation, boosting natural healing processes. Shockwave therapy can relieve pain and prevent it from returning, improving movement in the neck, shoulders, back, and torso.
Chiropractic Shockwave Therapy
A recent meta-analysis published in the American Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation studied the efficacy of shockwave therapy on pain intensity and neck disability for patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulders.
Researchers analyzed eleven randomized controlled trials comparing shockwave therapy to sham treatments and other treatments. They concluded shockwave therapy was “superior to other treatments in terms of alleviating the pain intensity and pressure pain threshold of patients with myofascial pain syndrome in the neck and shoulder.”
A randomized control trial assessed using shockwave therapy on cervical myofascial pain following neck dissection surgery. One group received shockwave therapy in addition to a topical non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, while a control group received only the NSAID. Researchers concluded that the shockwave wave group experienced significantly greater improvements in all parameters than the control group.
Another relevant study examined the records of thirty-four patients treated with shockwave therapy for chronic coccydynia. Researchers used a visual analogue scale, the SF-36, and an MRI to measure the results.
Before treatment, the mean VAS score was 9.6 and 3.4 after treatment, with nearly 80 per cent of patients scoring less than three. Bone marrow edema regressed in 6 per cent of patients. And there were significant improvements in all the SF-36 parameters except two.
Versatile Technology
Of course, chiropractors work with more than just neck and back pain. Likewise, shockwave therapy can treat the many other conditions chiropractors handle, such as tendonitis, muscle injuries, and more. If you’re looking to integrate this technology into your practice, our expert practitioners are ready to support you 24/7 with their decades-worth of experience.
To learn more call 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or visit our website.
