Article by, ©C. Bailey-Lloyd

Stripped from scenes from science fiction novels and films, shockwave therapy is a newage alternative to chronic pain sufferers. Utilized not only on humans for over 25 years for urologic and orthopedic conditions, shockwave therapy has even been introduced to veterinary and equine medicine as well. Helping individuals suffering from a range of conditions, including: golf or tennis elbow, stiff shoulders, calcaneal spurs, joint calcification, chronic tendon pain, and many other musculoskeletal disorders; shockwave therapy could possibly be answer to help and healing.

To learn about Shockwave Therapy, I contacted Ms. LuJean Smith (Public Relations' Director) of Siemens Medical Solutions. In an informal interview, I asked Ms. Smith a few questions about this revolutionary therapy and how it aids patients with healing:

[C. Bailey-Lloyd]: "Could you please tell me who developed and first began utilizing shockwave therapy?" [L. Smith]: "German aerospace engineers realized concept caused pitting or cavitation on aircraft parts. The first use of technology for health care was for kidney stones in 1970s."

(*Through further research, I discovered that 98% of all kidney stones are treated with shockwave therapy, also known as lithotripsy.)

Ms. Smith explained exactly how shockwave therapy works:

"A shockwave is created by an intense change in pressure just as upi experience witht he sonic boom of an aircraft or force you feel after a bolt of lightening. The shock wave is an acoustic wave with a quick rise in maximum pressure and a frequency spectrum ranging from audible to far end of ultrasonic scale.

Extracorpeal Shock waves used in medicine today are created as a result of electromagnetic, piezoelectric, or electro hydraulic generation.

Sonucur utilized an electromagnetic system that consists of an electromagnetic coil and opposing metal membrane. A high current impulse is released through coil to create a strong magnetic field which causes a current in opposing metal membrane. This current rapidly accelerates membrane away from coil producing an acoustic impulse in surrounding water.

The acoustic impulse is focused by an acoustic lens to direct shock wave energy to target tissue. The acoustic lens controls focus size and amount of energy produced at targeted tissue. The mechanisms for healing are not fully understood..."

Additionally, Ms. Smith expressed valuable insight regarding scientific evaluation supporting shockwave therapy. According to scientific studies, shockwave increases vascularization in treatment regions (based on MRI results). Furthermore, shockwave impact reduces pain from nerves as confirmed through lab test results on isolated nerve cells. And, consistent with Gate-Control theory (Gate-Control therory predicts that massaging a particular area stimulates large diameter nerve fibres; whereby pain relief is achieved.), shockwave eradicated chronic pain memory via over-stimulation.

Siemen's Sonocur Basic system has an articulating head that is placed directly onto area of treatment, where adjustments are fine-tuned to specific therapeutic focus. Once adjusted, preset pulses (shockwaves) are administered at low-energy levels; thus permitting anesthesia-free therapy.

TOFU ----HEALTHY FOOD AND DELICIOUS TOO

Today people are more health conscious and food habits have undergone a tremendous change. These days meat ,dairy products , eggs etc are used in very limited quantities. This is a trend more common in Western world. People are looking for a 100 per cent vegetarian healthy alternative to high fat -content and cholesterol producing non-vegetarian diet .

Here comes unique significance of soybeans and Tofu, a paneer like processed food . Tofu is made exclusively from health giving soyabeans . Therefore from health point of view Tofu stands out as a complete protein which has all eight amino acids.

Tofu is exceptionally popular world over and almost one billion people eat it often. No doubt it is free from saturated fat and cholesterol and thousands of people consider it as primary source of protein.

Tofu is not just a new product. For hundreds of years it was in use made exclusively from soybeans. The manufacturing process is this: Soybeans are cooked and crushed to make a rich soyamilk. It is allowed to solidify and later cut into blocks.