Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a type of precision medicine that naturally reduces pain and stimulates the body’s healing process to restore function. Zachary Perlman, DO, is an experienced sports medicine physician at Kai Sports Medicine in Little Silver, New Jersey, who specializes in treatments that help your body repair itself naturally. He uses shockwave therapy to treat acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions. Call the office today or schedule an appointment online to learn how shockwave therapy can benefit you.

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a noninvasive treatment that uses shock waves to stimulate activity at the cellular level, aiming to reduce pain and activate healing. Kai Sports Medicine offers extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), which uses focused shock wave energy for precise treatment.

Dr. Perlman is a patient-centered sports medicine physician who takes an integrative approach to care, offering a combination of traditional and complementary therapies that help his patients get back to their active lifestyle.

Treatments like shockwave therapy help heal injuries and chronic conditions, reducing pain and restoring function. The sound wave energy increases activity at the cellular level to promote healing and reduces pain by overstimulating the nerves in the area to disperse the discomfort.

Who benefits from shockwave therapy?

Dr. Perlman conducts thorough evaluations when you come in for care so he fully understands your concerns and goals and can create the most effective treatment plan. Shockwave therapy benefits acute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions such as:

• Rotator cuff tears and injuries
• Tendonitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Plantars fasciitis
• Stress fractures
• Nerve pain
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Dr. Perlman may recommend shockwave therapy when conservative medical interventions like physical therapy and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) fail to improve your musculoskeletal condition.

Shockwave therapy is a noninvasive option that may reduce your need for more invasive treatments like injections or surgery.

I’m sensitive to pain. What does shockwave therapy feel like?

You may feel the pulses of energy against the skin during your shockwave therapy. Comfort levels vary, but most people find the treatment tolerable. Dr. Perlman can adjust your treatment if you’re sensitive to pain to minimize discomfort.

During therapy, Dr. Perlman places the shockwave therapy wand on your skin over the site of your injury to deliver the energy. Treatment takes about 15-20 minutes. 

Dr. Perlman recommends a series of sessions to get the best results. 

What can I expect after shockwave therapy?

It takes time for your body to heal and you may not experience improvements in pain and function for several weeks after you start shockwave therapy. Dr. Perlman may include other treatments to support the healing process such as physical therapy or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. 

Shockwave therapy gives your body the tools it needs to heal on its own. Call Kai Sports Medicine today or schedule an appointment online to learn more.