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Regenerative Technologies

The past decade has seen a wave of new regenerative technologies that enhance the body’s innate healing process for faster, more complete healing. Rather than intervening in the natural healing process, regenerative technologies work symbiotically with cellular metabolism, clearing a path for natural healing. Two procedures showing particular success are Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Electromagnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT).

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a noninvasive, FDA-approved technology that uses shock waves to treat chronic, painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system. ESWT produces intense, short energy waves that travel faster than the speed of sound. This shock wave, in turn, generates pulses of high pressure sound that travel through the skin, initiating tissue repair. ESWT can often heal even chronic conditions that the body has previously been unable to repair on its own. The therapy improves blood flow, breaks up micro calcifications, promotes new blood vessel formation, and causes the release of growth factors and the recruitment of stem cells into the treatment area. ESWT also aids in modulation of inflammation to reduce pain and prevent cell damage. By interacting with deep tissue, ESWT can often heal chronic conditions of mechanical stress and microtrauma that are so often overlooked.

How does this work?

The body responds to the shock waves with production of fibroblasts — cells responsible for repair of connective tissues, such as tendon, ligaments, and fascia. Pressure from the shock waves creates cavitation bubbles, or small empty cavities behind an energy front. As these bubbles burst, they create a force strong enough to break up calcium deposits formed by chronic injury to soft tissue. This increased metabolism in the tissue promotes healing and subsequent dissolution of calcium deposits. The shock wave process initiates a biological process called mechanotransduction that stimulates the body’s inherent repair systems to boost blood flow, speed up cellular rejuvenation, activate and recruit resident stem cells.

ESWT can diminish pain through what is known as hyper-stimulation anesthesia. This occurs when the nerves sending signals of pain to the brain are stimulated so much that their activity diminishes, thereby decreasing or eliminating pain. althoug this effect is usually short lived, ESWT is effective in diminishing pain over longer periods of time through stimulation of the "gate-control" mechanism that activates a "reset" button re-calibrating pain perception.

A recent study by West China Hospital found that "ESWT showed a significant effect in the treatment of OA in pain reduction or/and functional improvement compared with placebo, corticosteroid, HA, medication, ultrasound..." Read more.

Extracorporeal Magnetic Transduction Therapy

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy

Extracorporeal Magnetic Transduction Therapy (EMTT) is a FDA-approved advanced form of regenerative healing technology that uses pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) to emit short duration high-speed impulses. These impulses evoke an electrophysical reaction in damaged cells, encouraging the repair and growth of new cells. The magnetic pulses emitted by EMTT send magnetic energy into the body’s cells that resonate with the body’s own magnetic fields to increasing available electrolytes and ions. The increased electrical activity stimulates cellular metabolism to accelerate the healing process.

EMTT relies on a different operating mechanism than ESWT. EMTT acts using high-energy electromagnetic radiation in the regional trauma area. And while they differ, the treatment modalities are highly complementary.

 
Stem Cells video

To determine if Regenerative Orthopedics will be helpful for you, please tell us about your condition.

ESWT/EMTT: Procedure Snapshot

The procedure itself is simple and safe. Gel is placed on the treatment area and the pressure-wave applicator is moved over the treatment area for about 10-15 minutes. Patients usually experience benefit after 1-2 treatments and there is no down time.

Applications

These technologies are used to safely treat a wide array of acute and chronic musculoskeletal pain, stress fractures and reduction of scar tissue. It promotes bone and tendon healing.

Conditions treated include:

  • Achilles pain
  • Back pain
  • Elbow pain (lateral and medial)
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Hamstring issues
  • Hip pain
  • Knee pain
  • Muscle and connective tissue
  • Neck Pain
  • Overuse injuries
  • Scar tissue treatment
  • Shin splints
  • Shoulder pain activation
  • Tendon injuries
  • Tennis and golfer’s elbow


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