If you’re considering shockwave therapy to treat erectile dysfunction or Peyronie’s disease, you might wonder if shockwave therapy has a history of medical use. While shockwave therapy has been used in Europe to treat ED for over 15 years, it’s also been used for a long time to treat other conditions, such as kidney stones and orthopedic injuries. As you decide on your course of treatment, learn more about what shockwave therapy is used for and the conditions it treats.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment option that can treat several conditions, such as kidney stones, erectile dysfunction, and Peyronie’s disease. The treatment uses high-frequency, low-intensity sound waves to break up kidney stones and plaque, release growth factors, and generate new blood vessels.
For kidney stones and orthopedic injuries, a clinician uses a lithotripter machine to send the waves toward different parts of the body. For Peyronie’s disease and erectile dysfunction, a clinician will move a smaller, wand-like device on the penis, with this device generating painless shockwaves.
What Is Shockwave Therapy Used For?
Traditionally, shockwave therapy was used to disintegrate kidney stones and assist with orthopedic injury recovery. After seeing shockwave therapy’s success in treating these conditions, clinicians started studying its ability to treat conditions like erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease. With over 100 clinical studies showing shockwave therapy’s effectiveness in treating ED and Peyronie’s disease, this non-invasive treatment has become a popular option among many men looking for a natural alternative ED treatment.
If you’re considering shockwave therapy as a treatment option, learn more about its primary uses below:
1. Kidney Stone Disintegration
One of the oldest uses of shockwave therapy is to treat kidney stones. When someone suffers from smaller kidney stones that can be spotted with an X-ray, they’ll often receive shockwave therapy to break up the stones without needing any incisions or surgery. Based on the X-ray, clinicians will target the kidney stones, using a lithotripter machine to generate shockwaves. These shockwaves then break up the stones into small fragments that can usually exit the body via urination.
2. Overuse and Sports Injury Recovery
Another common use for shockwave therapy is in the orthopedics and rehab field, where it can assist with overuse and sports injury recovery. Since the shockwaves used in this therapy can promote collagen synthesis, stimulate the body’s healing process, break up calcifications in soft tissue, and release growth factors, it can help heal musculoskeletal conditions, such as those located in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones.
Some common injuries shockwave therapy is often used to treat include stress fractures, broken bones that haven’t healed, Achilles tendinopathy, strained hamstrings or calves, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis. The non-invasive nature of shockwave therapy can help people receive treatment and heal from their injuries without having to undergo invasive surgery.
3. Erectile Dysfunction
Alongside treating musculoskeletal injuries, shockwave therapy has been found to effectively treat erectile dysfunction. Over 100 clinical studies support shockwave therapy’s ability to target the main causes of ED, with these studies showing a success rate of over 75%. Due to the treatment’s non-invasive nature and its use of low-intensity sound waves, it’s also often called Low-Intensity Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy.
Shockwave therapy is especially effective at treating ED, as it targets the main causes of ED in many men. For example, plaque formation in the penis’s existing blood vessels can cause ED, and shockwave therapy addresses this cause, with the soundwaves dissolving plaque build-up in the penis and promoting blood flow.
Shockwave therapy also releases growth factors in penile tissue, allowing the penis to grow new blood vessels that can then be used to fuel an erection’s strength. Finally, since penile scarring can cause ED, the treatment activates dormant stem cells to create new cell growth and repair scarring. As a result, the treatment often results in harder, stronger, and more sustainable erections. Even better, the results often last around two years, helping men decrease their dependence on pills or other invasive treatment options.
4. Peyronie’s Disease
Peyronie’s disease is characterized by fibrous scar tissue that builds up beneath the penis’s surface. This scar tissue can alter the shape of the penis, cause ED, and be incredibly painful. Fortunately for Peyronie’s disease sufferers, shockwave therapy can reduce penis curvature, increase blood flow, and heal scarring.
When you receive shockwave therapy for Peyronie’s disease, the soundwaves will target scar tissue and break it down. By breaking down scar tissue, the treatment reduces penis curvature and the pain it can cause. It also will create new blood vessels and open up existing ones, allowing for increased blood flow and stronger erections. Due to these effects, shockwave therapy is a surgery-free, drug-free therapeutic option for those with Peyronie’s disease.
Find a GAINSWave® Certified Shockwave Therapy Provider Near You
As the leader of sexual wellness, GAINSWave is proud to provide shockwave therapy to those suffering from erectile dysfunction and Peyronie’s disease. Since we’re committed to providing high-quality care, we offer a network of certified providers who have met our standards for equipment and care protocols. With shockwave therapy from a GAINSWave shockwave therapy provider, you can likely expect to receive stronger erections, more confidence, and increased sexual wellness. Learn more about shockwave therapy for ED and Peyronie’s disease.
If you’re interested in receiving shockwave therapy, please take our short questionnaire to see if you qualify for treatment. After you’ve been approved for treatment, review our extensive network of certified providers to find shockwave therapy treatment near you.