What is Acoustic Wave Therapy?

Acoustic Wave Therapy (AWT) is the use of sound waves as a form of cellular stimulation that encourages natural healing processes in the body. By using specific ranges of frequency, energy, and pressure, Acoustic Wave Therapy can be used as a part of the regenerative protocol to optimization outcomes in all the following areas:

• Male Sexual Health (ED)
• Female Sexual Health

• Reduction of Cellulite
• Plantar Fasciitis

• Increase Stem Cell Response with PRP Injections

Increasing Blood Flow

A key benefit of AWT is the creation of new blood vessels. This is called neovascularization. This allows an increase in blood flow to the area, bringing in a rich nutrient supply, while providing new routes of elimination for recurrent inflammatory cells and metabolic wastes. As the blood flow increase, tissue oxygenation is increased and tissues become healthier, stronger, and can metabolize more efficiently.

AWT also breaks down microcalcification within our arteries. These small calcium plaques are very common, especially in diabetics. Here, the non-invasive sound waves can physically destroy calcium buildup, which restores circulation.

This new blood flow also carries marginated stem cells from the bone marrow to the area to aid in tissue regeneration. If healthy cells cannot reach certain tissues, the production of new cells could be halted.

Encouraging an Inflammatory Response

The Acoustic Wave Therapy will also trigger a mild inflammatory response at the tissue level, which will initiate a cascade reaction, leading to new tissue formation. These mildly damaged cells release signaling peptides that recruit free floating and bone marrow stem cells to that location. This is an important part of the regenerative process.

Early in regenerative medicine, physicians would offer prolotherapy (still used with success today), where tissue was injected with a dextrose solution causing a mild inflammation. This would elicit a stem cell response, and create a healing environment, AWT does the same without the need for injections. This is useful in tightening stretched ligaments (sprains) or tendons(strains).

Nerve regeneration and pain control

By the same mechanism new blood vessels are formed, new nerve tissue can be created. This is important in treating decreased sexual function, as well as loss of sensation, such as seen in diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

AWT can also down regulate the pain response. Have you ever experienced intense, persistent, chronic pain? That is due to a neurotransmitter called Substance P. This neurotransmitter is responsible for pain perception and relaying that information to the central nervous system. The sound waves emitted through AWT help to lower the concentration of Substance P, thus reducing pain. This treatment works great for musculoskeletal pain that is slow to heal due to injury or trauma.

Nitric Oxide

Up until just recently this action of AWT was not yet discovered. The sound waves create a momentary pressure that would be equivalent to an ocean depth of approximately 2000 ft. Luckily this pressure only lasts a fleeting moment. This pressure change produces an enzyme which is responsible for the formation of Nitric Oxide. This enzyme is called eNOS or endothelial Nitric Oxide synthase. Among other things, eNOS is the mechanism by which hyperbaric oxygen has its success. The eNOS stimulates the formation of Nitric Oxide in the bone marrow. The Nitric Oxide than stimulates the bone marrow to release large numbers of stem cells into the circulation. This is called margination. The eNOS will also stimulate the formation of blood vessels in tissues where there seems to be a lack of blood flow. We are now starting to realize that Nitric Oxide is one of the holy grails of stem cell therapy. Nitric Oxide has many different tasks in the body. It also is a strong stimulator of erections in men, one of the reasons AWT is so effective in treating erectile dysfunction.