When someone sustains an injury and begins to heal, or if they’ve undergone surgery to address an issue, of course, the hope is that the healing process makes things better and that the major problem will be solved. However, the reality is this healing process can lead to other issues that are, if not as troublesome, still a pain. One of these issues is the build-up of scar tissue at the wound/incision site. These days, physicians, with increasing regularity, are using shockwave therapy to break down scar tissue.

So, how does it work, and how does it benefit your patients long and short-term?

Using Shockwave Therapy to Break Down Scar Tissue

Shockwave therapy works by sending sound waves into the damaged tissue to promote healing. This healing occurs in a few different ways, including breaking down the fibrous structure of the scar tissue, promoting the formation of new blood vessels in the damaged tissue, stimulating cells within the scar tissues to release growth factors, and triggering an inflammatory response that helps the body replace the old scar tissue with healthy tissue.

There are different types of shockwave therapy depending on the size of the scarring:

  • Focused shockwave therapy sends waves into a small area.
  • Radial shockwave therapy delivers shockwaves over a broader area, for instance, along the length of an injured tendon.

Benefits to Patients

When you use shockwave therapy to break down scar tissue, there are a multitude of benefits to your patients.

  • Non-invasive, pain-free. If your patient has already sustained an injury that caused the wound or has undone surgery resulting in a scar, they no doubt want to avoid further invasive treatments (and any more pain). Shockwave therapy is 100% non-invasive, and most patients experience nothing more than a slight tingling sensation at the application site.
  • Pain relief. As scar tissue builds up, the more pain receptors there are at the site of the wound. This can make even minor injuries feel more painful. Additionally, even if the scar doesn’t hurt at the beginning, over time, the pain can build as the nerve endings regenerate. Breaking down the scar tissue helps reduce that pain.
  • Better range of motion. Scar tissue is stiffer and more rigid than healthy tissue, which can restrict movement. This can impact a patient’s range of motion, which can be serious depending on where the wound is. Using shockwave therapy to break down scar tissue can help improve mobility and range of motion.

When scars form, patients often take for granted their overall impact, often thinking their biggest negative is their unsightly appearance. However, the development of stiffness and pain can have long-lasting implications. Using shockwave therapy to break down scar tissue is a great way to give your patients back their quality of life without any additional suffering.

Want to develop your in-clinic offerings? Shockwave Canada offers a range of devices from industry-leading STORZ medical devices, a pioneer in the field for over 70 years. Call 1-866-267-4162 or visit https://shockwavecanada.com today.