At Thai Sport Bodyworks, we use advanced technology from ARPwave within our Deepwave Therapy program.  This approach is a remarkably effective program designed to resolve chronic pain in 6 weeks or less — even after decades of pain.  Since we’ve launched Deepwave Therapy, we have provided over 1,000 sessions with a 90% success rate in resolving chronic pain and injury. If you live in San Diego or are planning to travel here, and are suffering from chronic pain or injury — feel free to reach out for a free zoom consultation.

This article is a case study example with patient, Diana, where we explore the transformative power of Arpwave in treating her frozen shoulder condition. With our personalized approach that addresses the root cause of the issue, we uncovered a remarkable (but typical) journey towards regaining full range of motion and pain reduction.

What Is Frozen Shoulder?

Frozen shoulder, also known as adhesive capsulitis, is a condition characterized by stiffness and pain in the shoulder joint. The exact cause is often associated with an injury, surgery, overuse, or even underuse of the shoulder and associated areas. These conditions create movement dysfunction anywhere along the kinetic chain that leads to improper movement patterns and increased stress on certain joints, including the shoulder. Over time, this stress can result in inflammation and the development of frozen shoulder.

The treatment approach of Deepwave Therapy, isn’t to specifically treat the inflamed and frozen joint but to find and remove the reason why the shoulder is inflamed and frozen in the first place. When the source is eliminated, the shoulder can quickly recover instead of being “re-injured” from the offending biomechanics/neuromuscular problem. This is a proactive process instead of the typical reactive approach that treats the symptoms (not the cause) through the use of anti-inflammatories, traditional physical therapy, and surgery, etc.

What Is Deepwave Therapy?

Deepwave Therapy is a unique Thai Sport approach for the recovery of chronic pain and recurring injuries. It uses the Arpwave technology and their standard treatment protocols but goes further with the use of the Phy Health AI Body analysis and specialized treatment protocols. You can learn more by visiting our main website under Recovery. This article reviews the typical process of the Deepwave Therapy program and can be applied to any musculoskeletal problem — not just frozen shoulder.

STARTING WITH AN ASSESSMENT

Understanding the severity and specific limitations of a frozen shoulder is crucial for effective treatment. To start, it's essential to quantify the pain and range of motion. A case study Diana reported a baseline pain level of about three out of ten during normal activities, which could increase to five when attempting movement.

Evaluating pain is the first step. She was asked to rate her pain on a scale from one to ten. While standing or walking, she usually experiences a pain level of around three. During movement, this can spike to a five. This helps us understand the pain's impact on her daily life and activities.

Next, her range of motion was assessed. When extending her arm to the side, Diana could barely reach ninety degrees. Forward motion was slightly better, but still not ideal. It's important to measure these angles to track progress over time.

ESTABLISHING Goals

Diana had previously undergone fifteen physical therapy sessions, which included using heat pads, arm bikes, and range of motion exercises. Despite these efforts, she could never lift her arm beyond ninety degrees without assistance. This history provides a baseline for comparing the effectiveness of Arpwave technology.

Based on the assessment, the primary goals are to reduce pain and improve the range of motion. Her experience with traditional physical therapy showed limited progress, indicating the need for a different approach. This is where Arpwave technology comes into play, offering a unique method to address both pain and mobility issues.

Uncovering the Neurological Component

One of the most critical aspects of treating any musculoskeletal condition is understanding the neurological component. When we experience pain or injury, our brain often sends protective signals to prevent further damage. This protective response can inhibit muscle function and create imbalances.

When she experienced pain in her shoulder, her brain was sending signals to inhibit certain muscles to protect the injured area. This is a natural response but often leads to muscle imbalances and further complications. Traditional treatments rarely address this neurological aspect, focusing instead on the site of pain.

During the initial assessment, it's important to explain that pain is not always a reliable indicator of health. Pain can be referred or manipulated, making it crucial to identify the root cause rather than just treating symptoms. For instance, Diana’s shoulder pain could be originating from an imbalance elsewhere in her body.

Each Deepwave Therapy session takes up to 60 minutes and consists of three steps:

• Muscle Balancing and Neurological Reset

• Searching (and retesting) for Root Causes

• Treatment Protocols (specific corrective excercises)

STEP 1: Muscle BALANCING & RESET

In each session, Muscle balancing is a crucial step in resetting the body's system and addressing the neurological component of an injury. This process involves ensuring that all muscles are activated correctly and working in harmony.

Before starting any treatment, a muscle balance test is used to check the activation of her muscles in both her good and injured arms. The goal was to see how quickly her muscles responded to signals from her brain. Any delay in this response could indicate an imbalance that needs to be corrected.

Many people, including Diana, have dominant muscles in the front of their body due to daily activities like lifting groceries or working out in the gym. This dominance can pull the shoulder forward, causing misalignment and pain. By addressing these imbalances, we can reset the system and improve overall function.

Arpwave technology plays a pivotal role in muscle balancing. Unlike traditional electrical stimulation, which uses alternating current, Arpwave uses direct current. This type of current is more effective in penetrating the muscles and reactivating them without causing pain or discomfort.

To help her achieve muscle balance, a specific exercise known as the "Statue of Liberty" was used. This movement involves rotating the arm and lifting it in a controlled manner, mimicking the act of drawing a sword. By performing this exercise with both arms, we ensured that her muscles were activated correctly and working together.

Even before the full treatment plan was applied, there was an immediate improvements in her range of motion. Her arm was able to lift higher with each repetition, indicating that the muscle balancing was already having a positive effect. This initial success set the stage for more comprehensive treatment using Arpwave technology.

In conclusion, addressing the neurological component and achieving muscle balance are essential steps in effective rehabilitation. By using Arpwave technology and targeted exercises, we can reset the system and pave the way for lasting recovery.

STEP 2: Find the Root Cause

After balancing, we then use the Arpwave to screen the body to identify the source of the problem. This is done by using one pad on the body that’s not close to the pain area, then the other pad is moved across the body in a scanning motion. This is a crucial part of the Arpwave treatment process since chronic pain is rarely caused from where you feel the pain, but from dysfunctional muscle that is affecting the area that hurts. During an initial assessment, we start by identifying the areas where the client feels pain. For example, Diana pointed out the pain band in her shoulder. However, this is just the beginning of the search.

We scan only those areas of the body that has a “kinetic chain” relationship with the site of pain, thus we would only scan her shoulder, arms, and upper back. We’re looking for spots that produce the most intense increase in sensation of the Arpwave energy. We call these sensations “hotspots”, which indicate where the brain is sending protective signals, causing muscle guarding and imbalances.

In her case, we found out that the issue was her bicep tendon and a spot in her upper back were the primary sources of her shoulder pain. These areas showed the most significant hot spot sensations during our search, indicating that they were the root cause of her problem. Once we've identified these key areas, we focus our treatment on them. By stimulating these spots with Arpwave’s patented waveforms, we can improve the communication between the brain and the muscles, reducing guarding and allowing for more effective muscle activation.

This screening approach using Arpwave is a comprehensive and effective method for uncovering the real source of musculoskeletal issues.

STEP 3: SPECIFIC Treatment

After we discover these “hot spots”, we can begin a customized treatment plan. Each treatment plan is very specific depending on the location of the problem. Arpwave has developed over 300 treatment protocols designed for every kind of musculoskeletal problem.

When treating something like a frozen shoulder, it's crucial to focus on breaking “compensation patterns” that have developed over time. These patterns often result from the body's protective mechanisms, which can cause certain muscles to overcompensate for weaknesses or injuries in other areas.

The treatment begins with low levels of stimulation, similar to a warm-up in the gym. This is a form of "neurological weight training." Initially, the intensity feels challenging, akin to lifting a weight that represents your maximum capacity. However, just like in physical training, your capacity improves with each repetition.

Then we would gradually increase the intensity. This method allows the brain to adapt and send appropriate signals to the muscles, reducing the guarding mechanisms. For example, Diana started with a low level of intensity and gradually worked up to higher levels, each time improving her range of motion and reducing her pain.

Correcting Movement Patterns

It's essential to correct the movement patterns during this process. We must guide client to ensure they are moving properly, which helps in activating the right muscles. For instance, Diana was instructed to pull her shoulders back and down, rotate her arm, and fire her tricep. This alignment and activation are crucial for breaking the compensation patterns and achieving proper movement.

One of the benefits of this approach is the immediate feedback and adjustment. As she performed each movement, its possible to make real-time corrections to her form, ensuring that her brain received the correct signals. This immediate feedback loop helps in quickly breaking the compensation patterns and establishing new, healthier movement patterns.

Confidence plays a significant role in breaking compensation patterns. Fear of pain or injury often leads to hesitation, which can reinforce poor movement patterns. By providing a controlled and supportive environment, this builds confidence in their ability to move without pain. Melissa, for instance, was hesitant initially, but as she saw immediate improvements, her confidence grew, and her movements became more fluid and natural.

Breaking compensation patterns is a critical step in treating a frozen shoulder. By using a gradual increase in intensity, correcting movement patterns, providing immediate feedback, and building confidence, we can help patients achieve lasting improvements in their range of motion and pain levels.

Reinforcing Proper Movement Patterns

Once we have begun to break down the compensation patterns, the next step is to reinforce proper movement patterns. This involves ensuring that the muscles are activated in the correct sequence and that the brain is sending the right signals to support these movements.

Repetition is key to reinforcing proper movement patterns. By performing the same movements multiple times, the brain and muscles start to form new, healthier habits. For instance, Melissa performed sets of five repetitions for each movement. This repetition helps solidify the new patterns in the brain, making them more natural over time.

As a client becomes more comfortable with the basic movements, we gradually increase the complexity. This might involve adding more weight or introducing new exercises that challenge the muscles in different ways. DIana was started with simple movements and gradually added more complex ones, such as rotating the thumb back and lifting the arm higher.

Visual and mental cues are essential tools in reinforcing proper movement patterns. I often ask patients to visualize themselves performing the movement correctly. For example, I asked Melissa to imagine herself ice skating, a familiar activity for her. This mental imagery helps create a sense of ease and fluidity in the movements, making it easier for the brain to adopt the new patterns.

Throughout the process, we would provide immediate corrections to ensure that the movements are performed correctly. This real-time feedback is crucial for helping the brain and muscles learn the new patterns. For instance, the Practitioner guided her to keep her shoulders back and down, rotate her arm properly, and engage her tricep and lat muscles.

Combining Strength and Flexibility

Proper movement patterns require a balance of strength and flexibility. By combining exercises that enhance both, we can create a more stable and functional shoulder. For Melissa, this meant not only focusing on the range of motion but also on strengthening the supporting muscles, such as the lats and triceps. This balanced approach ensures that the shoulder can move freely without risking further injury.

To solidify these gains, she performed several repetitions of lifting her arm. This helped reinforce the new movement pattern and encouraged her brain to recognize and adopt the improved range of motion. By the end of her first session, her ability to lift her arm had noticeably improved, setting a strong foundation for future sessions.

Tracking Progress

After just one session, the improvement in her range of motion was remarkable. Initially, she struggled to reach horizontal with her arm. By the end of the session, not only could she reach horizontal, but she also achieved around 85% of full range of motion in front of her body. But one session is just the starting point.

Just like physical therapy, it takes repeated sessions that provide improvement in pain reduction and range-of-motion after each session. But it’s up to ten times faster than typical PT, thanks to the patented neuromuscular technology. It typically takes 10 complete sessions, but results may vary.

Tracking progress is essential for reinforcing proper movement patterns. By measuring improvements in range of motion, pain levels, and muscle activation, we can adjust the treatment plan as needed. For Diana, each session showed measurable improvements, reinforcing the effectiveness of the new movement patterns and encouraging continued progress. After 10 sessions, Diana was completly cured of her frozen shoulder condition, and then resumed monthly sessions of our Thai Sport Massage, to maintain her health.

Through repetition, increasing complexity, visual and mental cues, immediate corrections, and a balance of strength and flexibility, we can help patients achieve lasting improvements in their shoulder function. By tracking progress, we can ensure that the new patterns are effectively integrated into their daily lives, leading to a full and lasting recovery.

Expectations and Recovery Plan

Understanding what to expect post-treatment is crucial for a successful recovery. Diana was advised on several key points to ensure she maximizes the benefits of her Arpwave sessions.

Diet and Metabolic Demand

The Arpwave session is highly effective but also places a high metabolic demand on the body. Diana received a specific diet plan designed to fuel her body for both recovery and upcoming sessions. This plan is essential because the treatment mimics an intense workout, requiring adequate nutrition to support muscle repair and growth.

Managing Soreness

She was informed that some muscle soreness is normal, similar to post-gym workout soreness. This is due to breaking compensation patterns. The expected soreness should be mild, around a two to three on a pain scale of ten. If soreness exceeds this level, additional recovery techniques can be applied.

Daily Activities and Sleep

After each Deepwave Session, she was advised to avoid any additional exercise and focus on normal daily activities. Quality sleep is also crucial, as it aids in recovery and ensures the effectiveness of subsequent sessions. Proper sleep and adherence to the diet plan are vital for optimal results.

The initial phase includes five consecutive sessions, followed by a break and then another set of sessions focused on neurological strength. The goal is to achieve a 25% improvement in pain reduction and range of motion after each session. By the end of ten sessions, she should expect around 90% improvement in her range of motion, with the final sessions solidifying these gains.

In conclusion, a structured recovery plan, including dietary guidelines and adequate rest, is essential for maximizing the benefits of Arpwave technology. Diana's journey highlights the potential for significant improvement in a short amount of time, paving the way for a full and lasting recovery.

FAQ

What is Arpwave technology?

Arpwave is a patented interactive neuromuscular stimulation product that uses direct current to stimulate muscles, enhancing communication between the brain and the body. It is designed to address the neurological components of pain and dysfunction, offering a more effective treatment compared to traditional methods.

How does Arpwave differ from traditional electrical stimulation?

Unlike traditional electrical stimulation that uses alternating current, Arpwave uses direct current with a patented waveform that emulates our normal nervous system signals. This allows for deeper muscle penetration and more effective reactivation without causing pain or discomfort.

What conditions can Deepwave THerapy treat?

• Acute pain

• Chronic pain

• Post-surgical recovery

• Sports injuries

What should I expect during an Arpwave session?

Each session involves muscle stimulation using direct current to improve neurological signaling. You may start with low intensity, gradually increasing as your muscles adapt. Expect some mild soreness similar to post-workout soreness.

How quickly can I see results with Arpwave?

Many patients, like Diana, see significant improvements in range of motion and pain reduction after just one session. However, a full course typically involves multiple sessions to achieve lasting results.

Is there a specific diet I should follow during Arpwave treatment?

Yes, due to the high metabolic demand of the treatment, a specific diet plan is recommended to fuel recovery and support muscle repair.

Can Arpwave be used for sports injuries?

Absolutely. Arpwave technology is highly effective for treating various sports injuries by addressing both the structural and neurological components of the injury.

How Much Does Each Session Cost?

We charge $109 for the first session (just $20 more than our Thai Sport Massage) and then $99 for each subsequent session if within 15 days. You need to budget for 10 sessions at a minimum. Our prices are very competitive; the typical price is $200 per session elsewhere in San Diego.

Do Your offer Insurance Coverage?

If you are covered by PPO insurance (not HMO), then we can provide a superbill that you can file with your carrier for full reimbursement. We also do the same for Workman’s Compensation or Auto Accident injuries. Or if you have an HSA or FSA account, you can use pay with your debit card without any issue.

Where can I book a session for Arpwave treatment?

You can book a session under DeepWave Therapy at Thai Sport Bodyworks.