Since we started offering StemWave in the office, the question I get most is, “So, do you inject stem cells?” Honestly, it’s a fair question. The name kind of sets you up for that one. The short answer is no. There are no needles, no injections, and nothing gets taken out of your body or put back in. But stem cells are a big part of why I was excited to bring StemWave into the practice, so I want to walk you through what it actually is, how it works, and who I think it can help.
So What Is It?
StemWave is a type of focused acoustic wave therapy. You might also hear it called shockwave therapy or ESWT, which stands for extracorporeal shockwave therapy. That’s a mouthful, so I’ll just say shockwave. The device sends sound waves through the skin and into the injured tissue, and because the waves are focused, we can aim them at a pretty specific spot instead of treating a whole general area.
Shockwave isn’t some brand new idea, either. It’s been used in medicine for decades, originally to break up kidney stones. Along the way, researchers noticed it seemed to kick-start a healing response in bone and soft tissue, and lower energy versions have since been studied for things like chronic tendon pain and plantar fasciitis.
A session is quick, usually around 10 minutes. I put a little gel on the area and then move the applicator over it, and you’ll feel a tapping or clicking sensation. Some spots will feel more tender than others. That’s usually a good sign that we’ve found the tissue that’s been giving you trouble, and I’ll adjust the intensity so it stays tolerable. There’s no downtime afterward, so you can go right back to your day.
Where Do Stem Cells Come In?
Your body already has its own stem cells and repair cells sitting in your tissues, waiting for a reason to get to work. When you have a fresh injury, your body sends blood flow, inflammation, and those repair cells to the area, and things usually heal up. The problem is when an injury hangs around for months. A tendon that’s been irritated since last summer can get stuck in a cycle where the healing process basically stalls out. Your body hasn’t fixed it, but it has also kind of stopped trying.
Here’s where StemWave comes in, and honestly, it’s the reason I brought this machine into the office. The sound waves put a little mechanical stress on the tissue, and your cells respond to it. Blood flow goes up, new small blood vessels start to form, and inflammation that’s been hanging around too long starts to settle down. The big one for me, though, is stem cell recruitment. Research on shockwave has shown it can signal your body’s own stem cells to come to the area and get to work repairing tissue.
That’s what makes StemWave regenerative care. We aren’t injecting anything or adding anything to your body. We’re using the stem cells and repair cells you already have and pointing them right at the spot that’s been stuck. For stubborn problems like plantar fasciitis and chronic tendon pain, that can make a big difference in getting the tissue to actually heal.
How StemWave Fits Into Your Care
A lot of pain treatments are designed to quiet the pain down. Pain medications and cortisone shots have their place, and I’m not against them, but they don’t do much for the tissue underneath. With regenerative care, the goal is getting the tissue itself to heal.
That’s also why I think StemWave fits so well with how we already do things here. We should always be trying to figure out the why behind your pain. If your Achilles keeps flaring up because of the way you’re moving, StemWave can help that tendon start healing, but we still need to fix the movement. So most of the time I’m pairing it with adjustments, soft tissue work, and rehab exercises. Motion is lotion, and that doesn’t stop being true just because we have a new tool.
StemWave isn’t a one and done appointment, rather we follow a care plan model based off StemWave's research. Most people need a series of sessions over several weeks, and the improvement tends to build as we go. Some people notice a difference after the first visit, and for others it takes a few sessions. What I’m after (and most patient's are after) is relief that sticks around after you’re done with care. Everyone heals a little differently, so I’ll give you an honest idea of what to expect for your situation.
Who Is It a Good Fit For?
The people I think about first are the ones who’ve had the same nagging problem for months and feel like they’ve tried everything. Plantar fasciitis is a big one (I wrote a whole post on that), along with Achilles and knee tendon pain, tennis elbow, and shoulder issues. I also like it for athletes who want to get back to their sport without sitting out for weeks.
There are a few situations where we’ll want to talk things through before jumping into treatment. If you’re pregnant, on blood thinners, or have active cancer, that’s something we need to discuss first. That’s part of why I always do a full evaluation before we decide on a plan.
When Should You Get It Checked Out?
If you’ve had pain for more than a couple of months that isn’t getting better, or you keep ending up back at square one after trying rest and stretching, it’s worth having it looked at. Sometimes the tissue just needs a little help getting the healing process going again.
StemWave isn’t a magic wand, but for the right person it can be what finally gets them over the hump.
Wondering if StemWave makes sense for you? Come in and we’ll take a look. You can schedule a free consultation with me at Alleviate Chiropractic and Wellness in Delafield, WI.
This article is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Please talk with a healthcare provider about your specific situation.
Tanner Schuh
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