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Shockwave therapy, sometimes called EPAT therapy, is a non-invasive and efficient treatment option for several musculoskeletal and other medical disorders. This article aims to provide a comprehensive guide to the operation and effects of EPAT therapy.
Readers will obtain knowledge of EPAT therapy’s mechanism of action, the biological processes involved in the treatment, and any potential advantages that might result from undertaking the operation by studying the science behind it. This article will also discuss what patients can anticipate from an EPAT session and contrast EPAT therapy with other available therapies, such as physical therapy or drug management.
What is EPAT Therapy Treatment?
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) therapy is a cutting-edge, non-invasive treatment in which painful body parts are subjected to high-energy sound waves. The body’s healing process is sped up by shockwave technology by boosting blood flow and metabolism to repair damaged tissue. The area is exposed to powerful energy pulses. These short-duration pulses produce micro-cavitation bubbles that enlarge and rupture. These bubbles’ force permeates tissue and activates cells in the body that aid in repairing connective tissue and bones.
EPAT can effectively treat acute and chronic pain, including heel, foot, hamstring, back, neck, shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, knee, and hand discomfort. In addition to many other things, it is used to treat sports injuries.
EPAT is used worldwide to treat conditions throughout the body. An FDA research was conducted in the US for patients with chronic plantar fasciitis, whether or not a heel spur was present. Amazingly, after just one treatment, there was an average 92% reduction in pain. (This information displays the outcomes for patients who took part in a one-year follow-up study using the Dornier EPOS Ultra device.)
Patients benefit from EPAT because it allows for extracorporeal, or outside the body, treatment of their disease or condition. Many of the costs and hazards associated with surgery are eliminated because the treatment is non-invasive.
How Does EPAT Therapy Treatment Work?
Extracorporeal is a phrase that implies “outside the body.” You will not require EPAT treatment surgery, and your recuperation time will increase.
Shockwave therapy is applied directly to the skin over the afflicted area. Low-energy sound waves, also known as acoustic waves, are used in place of electrical waves in this type of pain treatment therapy.
These sound waves behave and are shaped in a ‘radial’ manner. They can readily pass through the skin and then radiate as a shockwave throughout the damaged muscle, joint, or tendon. As a result, shockwave therapy is a focused form of treatment that only addresses damaged or injured tissue.
When you receive shockwave therapy, your therapist will use a handheld device attached to a device that produces sound waves from compressed air. They will move the gadget over the area that has to be treated while applying light pressure. Ultrasound gel is first applied to the skin to aid shockwaves’ ability to pass through the skin.
The sound waves increase localized inflammation and blood flow to the location. The body will attempt to resolve this inflammation on its own in the days following treatment, which encourages cell repair and regeneration. When the tissues begin to recover, the pain brought on by the damage or injury is subsequently lessened.
If you have scar tissue in the location that is causing you pain, shockwave therapy will also assist in breaking down this thick, fibrous tissue. In contrast to normal tissues, scar tissue is not highly elastic, which promotes immobility in the surrounding tissues. It is broken down using sound waves to lessen movement and discomfort.
The Mechanisms behind EPAT Therapy Treatment
EPAT therapy uses pressure waves to treat soft tissue structures like muscles and tendons while causing no harm or discomfort to the patient. This is because this treatment method does not involve using needles, unlike other types of shockwave technologies like extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL).
The very high-energy acoustic waves employed in EPAT therapy create micro-damage to the tissue, which increases blood flow and enhances the healing process by promoting cell metabolism and tissue regeneration. In addition, these pulses stimulate nerve endings, which causes patients receiving treatment for chronic illnesses like tendonitis/tendinopathy or plantar fasciitis, among others, to perceive pain less sharply.
Benefits of EPAT Therapy Treatment
EPAT is superior to other foot and ankle treatment methods in several ways. The following are the main advantages that patients experience following this procedure:
Limited downtime. Many patients, especially athletes who need to return to the field soon, find EPAT appealing because of the minimal downtime and speedy recovery. After their session, several patients claim to feel better right away. The majority of patients, however, experience marked improvement within a few short weeks and complete recovery within three months as new tissue is produced.
Non-invasive procedure. This procedure’s non-invasiveness is one of its most significant advantages. This means no stitches, scars, or sutures are involved, so you do not have to worry about the possibility of infection.
No need for anesthetic. If you are sensitive to anesthesia or are uneasy about being put under, this surgery can be performed without any anesthetic.
A simple process that produces fruitful long-term results. You may come in for treatment during your lunch break, get it done, and leave to return to work because each session lasts roughly 15 minutes. You will enjoy pain alleviation after these brief sessions that last for years, putting you in a position for long-term success.
Faster recovery. EPAT completely changes the game for many patients because it is less invasive than previous, more invasive procedures, and recovery is considerably quicker. Within 24 to 48 hours after therapy, you can resume your normal activities and begin gaining weight.
Injured people can return to work or their favorite sport more quickly by combining shockwave and physical therapy. Athletes who do not yet want or need surgery for persistent pain or injuries can benefit significantly from this therapy.
The Effects of EPAT Therapy Treatment.
There are both short-term and long-term impacts of EPAT therapy, according to research. Depending on the severity of the condition being treated, many patients return to normal activities within 24 hours after just one session, and many report pain reduction practically immediately.
Studies reveal that this type of shockwave technology has long-term advantages in terms of lowering inflammation, enhancing mobility, enhancing range of motion, and boosting flexibility, all without causing discomfort or harm during treatment sessions. This makes it an excellent option for anyone trying to find relief from musculoskeletal pain brought on by problems like tendonitis/tendinopathy or plantar fasciitis, among other illnesses.
Is EPAT Effective?
EPAT treatment is 91% successful in some cases. With EPAT therapy, patient satisfaction is greater than 80%. Finding a remedy for a condition with such a high satisfaction rate will be challenging.
Medical research employs conservative language. More information on the efficacy of EPAT therapy can be found in the testimonies of actual doctors and patients. The effects of EPAT therapy are astonishing, according to doctors. They gush over the outcomes of this fantastic technology. Patients claim that they have improved by 90% after just a few sessions.
Who Can Benefit from EPAT Therapy Treatment?
If you are considering shockwave therapy, talk to your doctor first to see if it is correct. Although most patients experience minimal adverse effects from this medication, it should not be used in some circumstances.
In cases where soft tissue is severely injured, your doctor is unlikely to advise shockwave therapy, for example. That could worsen the mild tissue harm in this situation. Additionally, if surgery is required to address an injury rather than a non-invasive procedure, your doctor will not even explore shockwave therapy.
Shockwave treatment should also be avoided:
- near the womb while pregnant
- on malignant tumors or adjacent tissues
- close to the spine or brain
- near the lungs
- on a patient with any bleeding condition
According to a study, shockwave therapy may be worth a shot if you have a soft tissue injury or tendinopathy that is not improving with more conventional treatment. Although it is always ideal to communicate with your doctor before making any decisions about treatment options, anyone with a musculoskeletal injury or disease who has not responded to standard therapies should consider EPAT therapy as a potential answer.
What Is the Price of EPAT Shockwave?
The cost of EPAT shockwave therapy may vary depending on several factors, such as the patient’s location, the seriousness of the illness or injury being treated, the number of sessions required to get the desired results, etc. However, rates may be higher if numerous sessions are needed to address a specific disease. Providers charge between $100 and $200 per session, but the prices may go higher.
Are You Willing to Try EPAT Therapy?
You have thus tried ice, braces, orthotics, rest, and even therapeutic exercises. You have even used aspirin or other narcotics available over the counter. However, your pain has not been alleviated by these measures. For long-term relief, these medicines are not recommended. They also do not remove the pain’s primary cause.
You may have taken prescription painkillers with higher strengths or even experimented with narcotics. These highly addictive medications should not be used for prolonged pain relief. Surgery is an option; however, it will require recovery time after the procedure. This requires time. You may be unable to take the day off from work.
EPAT Therapy can quickly heal your ankle, foot, and heel pains. It has an 80 percent customer satisfaction rate and a 91 percent success rate, so try it today by visiting your specialist.
