Even after an injury or illness has healed, pain can continue for weeks, months, or even years. Chronic pain management is used to treat the pain signals that remain active in the nervous system after the initial acute pain has gone away. People can also experience chronic pain even if there is no past injury. Fortunately, shockwave therapy provides drug-free, non-invasive treatment for chronic pain management.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain can include plantar fasciitis, lateral epicondylitis, and patellar tendinopathy.
Physical symptoms of chronic pain include tense muscles, reduced mobility and energy, and changes in appetite. Emotional and mental affects include depression, anger, and anxiety, particularly with regards to fear of re-injury, limiting your ability to return to work or activity.
Chronic pain can impact sleep, physical functioning, mental health, and social relationships. Young people who experience chronic pain and go untreated can see poor academic, social, and developmental outcomes, leading to substance abuse and mental health issues in adulthood.
In March 2021, the Canadian Pain Task Force reported that nearly eight million Canadians experience chronic pain. One in five children or youth experience chronic pain, while one in three people over the age of sixty-five are affected.
Sadly, many people who suffer chronic pain feel stigmatized because it is largely invisible, so those affected often aren’t believed. The lack of specialized care services, effective treatment, long wait times, and barriers to access are making the situation worse.
Health Canada estimates chronic pain cost the economy approximately $40 billion in 2019. What’s more, the number of chronic pain suffers is expected to grow to nine million people by 2030.
Shockwave Treatment
A recent study argued that shockwave therapy “might be first choice” for chronic pain management “because of its effectiveness and safety.”
Researchers used shockwave therapy to treat elbow tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis and rotator cuff tendinopathy. Patients reported pain reduction and improvement of both functionality and quality of life by at least two points on the five-point Likert scale immediately after treatment and at a four-week follow-up.
Shockwave therapy is an industry leader in chronic pain management because it is non-invasive, simple, fast, and safe. It combines the effectiveness of surgery while reducing the treatment time of physical therapy to deliver speedy and successful injury treatment.
Shockwave Canada offers a range of products for practitioners. If you would like to incorporate the long-term benefits of shockwave therapy into your practice, contact us today by dialing 1 (888) 741-SHOC(7462) or by visiting our website.
