SoftWave’s OrthoGold 100 is an advanced shockwave therapy device that uses electro-hydraulically produced spark gap technology. Its patented design features a parabolic reflector/applicator that produces highly effective, low-intensity, unfocused shockwaves. The applicator spreads energy to large areas of both superficial and deep tissue injuries, causing a biological response to initiate the body’s own natural healing process.

Shockwave therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in injured tissue. The treatments rely on the physics of shockwaves and the biological responses of tissue to promote regeneration. The physics of shockwaves is defined as acoustic waves that carry energy and propagate through a medium (e.g., tissue). When shockwaves travel through tissue, they can cause mechanical stresses that induce a cascade of biological responses.

Mechanotransduction is the process in which mechanical forces are converted into biochemical signals, triggering various biological processes in cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts, and endothelial cells. Rapid pressure changes in shockwaves cause tiny gas bubbles to form and collapse within the tissue fluid, known as cavitation. This cavitation effect can create localized shear stress that stimulates cellular repair mechanisms, which can alter cell membrane permeability and stimulate cellular receptors.

Shockwaves can dilate blood vessels in the treated areas, promoting angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) and increasing blood supply, which brings in essential nutrients and removes waste products. Shockwaves can also reduce pain through a combination of effects, such as reducing nerve sensitivity, increasing local endorphin production, and inhibiting the transmission of pain signals through sensory nerve fibers. Shockwave therapy is believed to activate cellular processes that enhance tissue repair and regeneration, including: