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At Shockwave Therapy - BC, we've seen patients from across Canada,
most states in the U.S., and from several countries around the world, from as
far away as South Africa, Japan, and South America.
On this page we list the most common reasons
why patients choose to travel
large distances to visit our facility.
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The
first reason people choose to travel
significant distances to see us is that we use the
newest, most up-to-date ESWT technology
available anywhere.
We use
the
Piezoson 100 machine made by the Richard
Wolf Corporation in Germany.
This is true, focused, extra-corporeal
shockwave therapy using piezoelectric
technology, a technology still
unavailable in many locations around the
world, including the United States.
We are one of very few
locations in North
America that have this system.
For this reason, we've had patients from
several countries across the world where
this version of ESWT technology is not
yet available, from throughout the
United States, and as far as Japan,
South Africa, and South America. |
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Second, the piezoelectric form of ESWT we use is the
most highly-focused
generation of shockwave therapy available anywhere in the world.
Being highly
focused means
that the shockwaves are accurately delivered to the proper tissue level,
maximizing therapeutic value to the injured tissue, and minimizing
wasted energy and trauma to surrounding
tissues.
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Third, the
piezoelectric form of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy we employ
covers both
high-energy
and
low-energy
energy spectra. This allows us to treat the widest variety of
complaints, from bone to the most delicate soft tissues.
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Fourth, the therapeutic
energy waves produced by piezoelectric ESWT is
adjustable in strength
and adjustable in depth.
Unlike other shockwave technologies, we can fine-tune the strength of the treatment to
the specifics of your medical condition.
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Fifth,
the form of ESWT we use
does
not require anesthesia.
Earlier generations of ESWT technology are rather painful and require patients to undergo
anesthesia for the therapy to be tolerable. No longer.
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Besides having the best form of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on
the market, our facility is unique in its superior diagnostic and
assessment capabilities.
For instance, whenever any
imaging is
required, either
of bone or soft
tissues, we can
provide it in
the convenience
of our office.
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We use
the state-of-the-art
OEC 6600 mini
C-arm
fluoroscope
(pictured to the
right) to image
bone.
The main
advantage of
fluoroscopy over
traditional
X-rays is that
we can see
moving pictures
of bone, in real
time, on a
screen. We
can even compare
the left and
right feet, or
before and after
pictures on the
split screen.
Further, there's no
waiting.
We can perform
this test during
your assessment
visit, and
instantly see
the results.
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OEC
Mini C-arm
fluoroscope
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We also
use
top-of-the-line
diagnostic
ultrasound
equipment from Esaote for
imaging soft
tissues in real
time as well.
This allows us
to see tissues
like the plantar
fascia, tendons,
bursas, nerves,
and other
structures
invisible to
X-ray, but so
commonly treated
with ESWT.
And like
fluoroscopic
images, there is
no waiting. We
can perform this
test the same
day as your
assessment
visit, and see the
results
immediately.
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Esaote Aquila
diagnostic
ultrasound |
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When there is a
mechanical component to your
complaint, we have a treadmill for gait analysis,
in order to
properly assess you
biomechanically.
And as Dr.
Schumacher is
board certified
by the American
Board of
Podiatric
Orthopedics and
Primary
Podiatric
Medicine, we are
uniquely
qualified to
asses your
biomechanical
complaint and
follow through
to make
prescription,
custom-made
orthotics,
shoes, boots,
sandals, and a
variety of
braces.
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Simply put, there are few
facilities anywhere with these
assessment technologies.
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The
seventh reason patients come great distances to see
us is that we are one of the few ESWT centres anywhere that
specializes in
extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for foot
problems.
In fact, we share a
brand-new 3,800 square foot space with the Achilles Foot Health Centre run by Dr. S. A. Schumacher,
a
podiatric physician and surgeon board certified by both major boards in
the podiatric profession, the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and the
American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine.
Please follow the links to learn more
about the Achilles Foot Health Centre and
Dr. Schumacher.
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The eighth
reason patients from great distances to see us is
cost.
By the time you add in all the extras such as "facility fees",
"physician's fees", "anesthesia fees" and the like, ESWT in places like the United States may run
$4,000 USD, $6,000 USD, even $9,000 USD.
This price is typically based on each location
treated; multiple
sites of treatment raise the cost precipitously. And again, this is using an older technology
to the one we use. The cost for ESWT with our system is $975
Canadian dollars, with multiple sites charged at a discount.
Not only is this less
expensive than ESWT in the U.S. to start with, but it is even more
inexpensive when you consider the exchange rate. (For current exchange rates of your currency in Canadian
Dollars, we provide this link for current exchange rates.)
And for our U.S.
patients, please note,
while other ESWT facilities in Canada charge U.S. patients in U.S. dollars,
we
charge U.S. patients just as we charge our Canadian patients--in Canadian
dollars.
As you might imagine,
with this sort of price difference, patients from the U.S. and from
other locations large distances away frequently find that it's
cheaper to travel to British Columbia, take a week or two off as a
vacation in a
fantastic, scenic location--and have the
treatment performed--than it is to have ESWT performed in their home
location.
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In many jurisdictions in Europe,
it is required by law that a physician perform the shockwave therapy treatment.
This is not only not true in most locations in North America; it is the
exception where you will find a physician actually treating you.
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We feel having a
physician trained in shockwave therapy perform the actual
treatment is particularly important with piezoelectric
shockwave because the
type of ESWT we use is highly focusable, and it is important that the specific tissue being
treated by properly identified and that the therapeutic shockwaves be properly
directed at that tissue level and at the best therapeutic strength.
So the
ninth reason people travel to see us is that
our facility is unique is the fact that ours
is one of the few facilities in North America that has a
doctor perform the shockwave therapy
treatments instead of a technician.
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The tenth reason patients choose to
travel to our facility is our
experience and
expertise. We were among the
first--if not the first--to use piezoelectric shockwave therapy in North America.
We are, to our knowledge, still the only facility to use this technology
in western Canada.
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We have a great deal of experience using this technology and understand when it
is likely to be effective, what tissues and strength levels are most likely to
benefit a given condition in a given patient.
And we travel the world to the major conferences on shockwave
therapy, including the major yearly conference put on by the
ISMST, the international organization for shockwave therapy.
In 2006, for example, we attended the conference in Rio de
Janeiro, Brazil. In 2005, we attended the conference in
Vienna, Austria.
Other smaller conferences are held throughout North America.
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Above:
Dr. Schumacher at
the 2006 conference in Rio de Janeiro.
Right:
Lecture hall at the
2005 ISMST conference on extra-corporeal shockwave therapy in
Vienna, Austria
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The eleventh reason patients choose to travel to
our facility is
accessibility.
We are serviced by major roads:
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For those heading
east or west, the Trans-Canada Highway passes within a few short blocks of
the Shockwave Therapy - BC facility.
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For those arriving
from the south, Interstate 5 (I-5) comes right up to the southern border of
Surrey at the U.S. border.
And we are serviced by several airports:
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Vancouver International
Airport is located west of us and is a major hub, serving almost all locations,
national and international. Vancouver is the closest major North American
destination for many locations in Asia, and we're only a short flight from
most locations in the United States.
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Abbotsford International
Airport in Abbotsford, British Columbia is a small, very manageable-sized airport located east of us.
It primarily serves Canadian locations
and some selected U.S. cities. It makes for a convenient arrival location.
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Bellingham
International Airport is located south of us in Bellingham, Washington. It
primarily serves US
locations, and if you're coming from the U.S., it is often cheaper than flying
into other airports like Vancouver International or Sea-Tac International.
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Sea-Tac International
Airport, about three hours south of us, is the major airport for the
Seattle-Tacoma region. It serves most any
location around the world.
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The
thirteenth reason patients choose to travel to
our facility is the most important:
It
works.
Dozens of studies consistently show that
extracorporeal shockwave therapy works in the majority of cases that
have been non-responsive to alternative treatments. And when you
put up with enough pain for enough time, and when you've run the gambit
of treatment options without success, you may be a good candidate for
this therapy.
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If you've
run out of options and feel that ESWT may
be appropriate for your condition and wish to try a change in direction, we
would be pleased to help.
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