Treating ED with Shockwave (GAINSWave) Therapy: Technology Matters
Shockwave therapy has been employed in the medical field since the 1980s - used to treat everything from breaking up kidney stones to addressing conditions like joint pain, bursitis, and tendinitis. More recently, physicians and scientists have had encouraging results using this kind of therapy to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). Since shockwave therapy - popularized by marketing company GAINSWave - became popular in the U.S. several years ago, several other “wave” technologies have been introduced, purporting to help men suffering from ED. More recently, some of these devices are even sold directly to consumers - some can even be found on Amazon! However, the majority of these devices are not backed by medical evidence and research, and, because of inferior technological capacities, their effectiveness is highly questionable.
Shockwave therapy is conducted by aiming shockwaves (aka energy waves) toward treatment areas from outside the body. According to a study in the Urology & Nephrology Open Access Journal, “this non-invasive low-intensity shockwave therapy (LISWT) has been shown to significantly improve erectile function in men.” And dozens of other research studies also talk to the efficacy of this approach.
THE “OTHER” WAVE TECHNOLOGIES - UNPROVEN AND QUESTIONABLE
Clinics around the country are purporting the effectiveness of several “wave” technologies to treat ED - calling their solutions everything from Acoustic Wave to Sound Wave to Swiss Wave. It is important to note, however, that many of these clinics are using equipment that is not backed by medical evidence and research and are not capable of offering quantifiable, demonstrable results. GAINSWave is a training, marketing, and education-based concept. They do not sell devices and there’s no such thing as a “GAINSWave device.” As the popularity and prevalence of GAINSWave have flourished, many GAINSWave clinics are using underpowered devices. As a result, protocols and results at clinics using the “GAINSWave” name can vary dramatically.
SHOCKWAVE THERAPY - THE DEVICE MAKES A DIFFERENCE
Dr. Kate Kass employs equipment backed by significant medical study and research. Specifically, she uses two kinds of shockwave devices manufactured by Storz Medical - “focused” and “radial” - both certified by the FDA to treat chronic and acute musculoskeletal pain. These are both “scheduled” devices - which can only be overseen and purchased by a medical professional. Dr. Kass employs focused and radial devices so she can offer optimal options for her patients. Whereas a focused device is technically a more powerful device that more deeply penetrates the tissue, the radial device reaches shallower tissue. The focused device casts a laser beam-like shockwave - compared to a radial device that produces a wider, shallower beam.
Very few clinics offer focused shockwave therapy - likely because these devices require higher-level medical providers to operate them (i.e. a doctor or registered nurse) and are more expensive. Because Dr. Kass is dedicated to providing the most evidence-based and effective treatments, she chooses to offer both radial and focused shockwave therapy.
THE TECHNOLOGICAL DIFFERENCE
A medical device’s true ability to address the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction lies in its energy output capacity. A certain amount of energy is necessary to cause a biological response in the tissue of the penis, and more specifically the corpus cavernosum. There is a minimum amount of energy that is needed to encourage angiogenesis, break up scar tissue, cause neovascularization, create a stem cell response, and stimulate nitric oxide production. Medical devices with negligible capacities, such as those devices on the market that mimic radial shockwave (that generate less than .22 mj/mm2) simply do not deliver adequate energy to address the root causes of ED. Focused shockwave devices are more powerful devices and offer deeper penetration - focused devices do not have any issue generating ample energy to produce changes in the tissue.
HOME DEVICES - CAN THEY REPLACE IN-OFFICE TREATMENT?
For all the reasons outlined above - maximum capacity devices and evidence-based protocols are required for the effective treatment of ED. The home devices coming onto the market do not provide sufficient energy to cause changes in the tissue that lead to long-term improvements in erectile function.
OUR CLINIC’S CHOICE - AN EVIDENCE-BASED DEVICE
“I decided to work with Storz because they are the worldwide leader in the space,” said Dr. Kate Kass. “They have been in the business for over 70 years and are highly regarded in the medical community. Additionally, the equipment I chose are “scheduled” devices - which can only be purchased and overseen by a medical professional. And the devices we selected provide more than ample energy needed to stimulate an adequate response and effectively treat ED.”
Because ED is such a prevalent issue, Dr. Kass receives inquiries from new patients all the time - many asking about other “wave” technologies and different kinds of devices. “I can’t speak to the efficacy of other clinics’ equipment or treatment regimens. I can say that the devices we employ and the treatment protocols we follow are based on scientific evidence and bring significant results. The majority of our patients report an improvement in the quality of their erections and the ability to maintain erections following a series of treatments in our office.”
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT SHOCKWAVE THERAPY FOR ED OR ANY OTHER SEXUAL HEALTH CONCERNS - JUST GIVE THE OFFICE A CALL AT 425-230-6845.
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