The Many Benefits of Shockwave and MLS Laser Therapy

Is foot pain keeping you on the sidelines? Shockwave and MLS laser therapy may be able to help you get back on your feet again.

Hai-En Peng, DPM, FACFAS of Align Foot & Ankle Center in Camarillo and Santa Barbara, California, has helped many patients find pain relief and healing through these advanced treatments. In this blog, Dr. Peng explains how these treatments work and the many benefits they can provide.

How shockwave therapy works

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic energy — or shockwaves — to activate the healing process. This may sound jarring, but these energy waves are noninvasive and pass seamlessly through the surface of the skin. The goal is to create tiny “microtraumas” in the treatment site to kick the natural healing responses into high gear.

When Dr. Peng treats an area with shockwaves, it offers numerous benefits, such as:

• Improving blood circulation and the formation of healthy new blood vessels
• Accelerating and supporting cell regeneration and collagen production
• Stimulating nerve activity
• Reducing inflammation

Together, these reactions help activate, support, and accelerate healing, resulting in less pain and improved function.

In most cases, each treatment usually takes 10-20 minutes per foot, and Dr. Peng recommends at least 5 shockwave treatments for the best results. And, since shockwave therapy works on a cellular level, the healing process continues for up to three months after your last treatment.

How MLS laser therapy works

MLS — Multiwave Locked System — laser therapy also activates the healing process. However, instead of using shockwaves, it relies on specific wavelengths of light. But, unlike other laser technologies, MLS treatments use two wavelengths of light energy delivered in a synchronized manner.

During an MLS treatment, Dr. Peng directs the laser energy at the treatment site. One of the wavelengths administers a continuous beam of energy to activate the lymphatic system and encourage blood flow. At the same time, the technology releases pulses of light that disrupt pain signals going to the brain.

The benefits of treating injuries with MLS therapy include:

• Reduced pain
• Decreased inflammation and swelling
• Improved nerve function
• Accelerated healing

MLS laser therapy treatments usually take less than 10 minutes, and they’re completely painless. Like shockwave treatments, Dr. Peng usually recommends a series of sessions, and it can take some time to see results since the system triggers healing on a cellular level.

Conditions that can benefit from shockwave or MLS laser therapy

Dr. Peng uses shockwave and MLS laser therapy for several acute and chronic foot problems, such as:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Toe arthritis
• Foot and ankle injuries
• Neuropathies and aromas
• Wounds
• Post-surgical swelling

And, since shockwave and MLS laser therapy don’t require medications, incisions, or downtime, they come with few — if any — risks and are safe to use with other treatments.

Could you benefit from shockwave or MLS laser therapy? Learn more by booking an appointment online or over the phone with Align Foot & Ankle Center today.