Having someone’s back means supporting and defending them, especially in strenuous or challenging situations. Given lower back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide and affects up to 30 percent of Canadians over the age of 60, it’s worth considering adding alternative back pain treatment such as shockwave to your clinic’s roster.

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment method that uses acoustic waves to activate the body’s natural healing process, relieve pain, and rehabilitate various musculoskeletal conditions, including lower back pain.

According to the authors of the study Efficacy and Safety of Extracorporeal Shockwave on Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, extracorporeal shock wave therapy “provided better pain relief and improved lumbar dysfunction compared with the other interventions.”

Findings from the Study on Back Pain

Because back pain can result from various factors, including muscle strain, disc issues and underlying medical conditions, it can be challenging to identify the specific cause and tailor treatments accordingly.

Researchers at The First Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical University in Hainan, China, set out to determine the efficacy and safety of one specific treatment used to treat chronic low back pain: extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT).

After a systematic review and meta-analysis, researchers pulled data from 13 randomized trials that included 648 patients (329 in the ESWT group and 319 in the control group) with lower back pain symptoms from five to 36 months. All studies included a complete assessment of pain intensity pre- and post-intervention.

The study reported:

  • Significantly reduced pain scores at one and three months in the ESWT group compared to the controls.
  • Significant ODI score improvements at one and three months for the ESWT group. (The Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire is widely used to measure a patient’s functional disability related to low back pain.)
  • No adverse effects.

Based on their findings, the researchers concluded that ESWT effectively alleviates pain and improves functional outcomes in patients with low back pain.

Final Thoughts

Shockwave therapy treats the root cause of pain non-invasively, which means minimal downtime, no surgery, scarring, or anaesthesia.

Given the fact millions of Canadians suffer from lower back pain, isn’t it worth considering incorporating extracorporeal shock wave therapy into your practice?

Curious to learn more about Shockwave Canada? Visit our website for detailed information and expert guidance.