Treatment
SoftWave Regenerative Therapy
SoftWave uses acoustic waves to help settle inflammation, boost circulation and trigger the body’s own healing. It is non-invasive and drug-free — an option at our Saco, ME clinic for people who would rather not turn to medication or surgery.
Start here
Two short videos from SoftWave, the company that makes the device we use — a 45-second overview, then two minutes on what happens during a treatment and why it works.
What SoftWave is
A quick sketch of how SoftWave compares with pills, cortisone and surgery.
How a SoftWave treatment works
How the provider finds the painful area, what the waves do in the tissue, and why sessions are short.
What SoftWave therapy is
SoftWave sends acoustic waves — a form of shockwave — into the painful area from a handheld applicator held against the skin. The waves help decrease inflammation, boost circulation, break up scar tissue and relieve pain, with the aim of getting the body to repair the tissue itself. Nothing is cut and nothing is injected.
It is offered along with the other chiropractic treatments we provide, so it usually forms one part of a plan built around your condition.
What a treatment looks like
You sit or lie comfortably while the applicator is moved over the area that hurts. Your feedback guides it: the tender spots are where the treatment is focused, and it continues until that discomfort eases.
Treating one area takes a matter of minutes. Most people feel a tapping sensation, stronger over the sorest tissue, and are up and walking straight afterwards — several of the patients below were filmed within minutes of their session.
What SoftWave therapy is used for
SoftWave can help with a range of pain and injury, including:
- Plantar fasciitis
- Arthritis
- Shoulder pain
- Knee pain
- Muscle tension
- Sprains
- Strains
Hear it from our patients
Our own patients, filmed in our Saco office — most of them minutes after a session. These are their words about their own experience. Results vary from person to person, and Dr. Reiche will tell you honestly whether SoftWave suits your problem.
Sue: stairs, minutes after treatment
Sue had been told she needed surgery on her foot. Minutes after SoftWave on both feet, she takes our stairs without pulling herself up the rail.
Bev: after her first lower-back session
About twelve years of back pain, since back surgery. Filmed straight after her first five-minute treatment.
Feeling coming back to both feet
Fourteen or fifteen years of neuropathy in both feet after chemotherapy. Filmed a couple of days after a first session.
The day after
Filmed the day after a first SoftWave treatment — no longer needing help to stand up.
Cindy: walking after knee surgery
A year after knee surgery, stairs and getting up from a chair still hurt. Filmed walking just after her session.
What to expect
Consultation
You talk through where it hurts, your health history and what you want to get back to doing with Dr. Brent Reiche.
Examination
A chiropractic examination, plus standard neurological, orthopedic, postural and physical tests, to work out what is causing the pain.
Deciding if SoftWave fits
Dr. Reiche explains what he found and whether SoftWave belongs in your plan, on its own or alongside other chiropractic treatment. Nothing is done in our office without your consent.
Treatment
The applicator is held against the skin over the area being treated. There is no incision, no injection and no prescription involved.
Why people choose it over medication or surgery
If you are looking for pain relief, you may already be weighing up medication or surgery. Both can help, but both have drawbacks.
Medication might only provide temporary relief and can come with harmful side effects, including addiction. Surgery may solve the underlying problem, but it can carry long recovery times — and if you are busy with work or family, that may not be an option.
SoftWave therapy is a non-invasive, non-addictive alternative to both. That means relief without the complications that can follow surgery or the risk of dependence that can come with medication.
Common questions
Is SoftWave therapy invasive?
No. The acoustic waves are delivered from outside the body, through an applicator held against the skin — there is no incision and no injection.
How long does a treatment take?
Treating one area takes a matter of minutes, and you can walk out and carry on with your day afterwards.
Does it involve medication?
No. SoftWave is non-addictive and drug-free, which is why it appeals to people who want to avoid prescription painkillers.
What kinds of pain is it used for?
Plantar fasciitis, arthritis, shoulder pain, knee pain, muscle tension, sprains and strains are the main ones we use it for.
How do I know if SoftWave is right for me?
Come in for a consultation and examination. Dr. Reiche will tell you whether SoftWave suits your problem, and will let you know if your condition needs care from another provider.
Can it be combined with other chiropractic treatment?
Yes. SoftWave is used along with our other therapies and techniques, including chiropractic adjustment.
Related
Therapies & Techniques
Alongside chiropractic adjustment, our Saco, ME clinic uses a range of hands-on and equipment-based…
Chiropractic Adjustments from a Chiropractor Near You in Saco, ME
A chiropractic adjustment is a hands-on correction to the joints of your spine, used to restore proper…
Hip Pain Treatment in Saco, ME
Hip pain that comes and goes can settle into something constant, and it can get worse over time. Chiropractic…
Ready to feel better?
If you’re dealing with stubborn back, hip or knee pain, start by checking your Pain & Mobility Score. It’s a quick way for our team to see what’s going on.