The effectiveness of Acoustic pulse therapy

Throughout my time working at Armenta, I encountered amazement and even scepticism regarding the impact of shock wave treatment on cattle. Shockwave therapy, a medical procedure in use for over 25 years, has proven biological effects that have been researched and confirmed through hundreds of studies. Yet, despite this evidence, scepticism persists. I hope this article can help improve public understanding of the procedure.

Low-frequency acoustic waves affect tissue cells through mechanotransduction1. Cells can sense pressure, vibration, and stretching via receptors, triggering a chain of biochemical reactions that influence their function. The main processes affected include: increased cell division, proliferation, and migration1; changes in cell functions1; regulation of homeostasis2 and apoptosis (internal balance and programmed cell death, respectively); release of anti-inflammatory cytokines and self-healing2; angiogenesis (formation of new blood vessels) 3; remodelling of the extracellular matrix3; and the release of growth factors related to angiogenesis, leading to improved blood supply4.

In this article, I will review several studies that highlight the effects of acoustic wave therapy on various tissues and organs, focusing on angiogenesis, clinical presentation, and functional outcomes. The first study, in the field of organ transplantation, demonstrates increased blood vessel formation in a graft simulating hard tissue. The second study focuses on the?restoration of cardiac function in pigs with ischemia. The third examines its effect on facial skin, the fourth on wound healing, and the fifth on erectile dysfunction.

A 2020 study on organ transplantation5 demonstrated how a single treatment can influence blood vessel development in a collagen graft. In this study, animal-derived collagen sheets were implanted in chicken eggs, as collagen—a structural protein found in large amounts in connective tissues—mimics the graft. The sheets were implanted in windows cut into the eggshells on the seventh day after fertilization. Treatment was administered to half of the eggs on the tenth day, with follow-ups conducted on the eleventh and fourteenth days to observe blood vessel growth over time.

The results showed that in the treatment group, by day 14 (right bottom square), there was a significantly larger area of blood vessel coverage over the graft compared to the control group (top right square), which did not receive the treatment. Between days 11 and 14, blood vessel coverage increased by 114% in the treatment group, while the control group saw only a 25% increase. ?

A study published in 2004 found that impaired cardiac function can be improved6. In this study, 28 pigs were examined after being artificially induced with cardiac ischemia. Half of the pigs were treated with shock waves directed at the heart, and after four weeks, they were sampled again.

Graph (E) shows the function of the left ventricular wall (responsible for pumping blood to the body) in the treatment group (SW) compared to the control group (CONTROL). In the control group, no significant change was observed in the movement of the left ventricular wall. However, in the treatment group, a significant recovery was measured, and the movement of the wall returned to normal (the pulse is indicated by a red circle).

A recent study examined the effects of treatment on facial skin7. The study involved six male Spanish goats aged 3-5 years. The treatment was applied to sensitive areas on their facial skin at two different intensities and divided into two randomly assigned areas. After four days, and for purposes of collecting experimental results, the goats were euthanized, and samples were taken.

The results were based on 30 samples for each intensity and 60 samples from the control area. The samples were tested for skin thickness, the number of blood vessels, and the amount of type 1 collagen.

The treated areas showed a 16%-17% increase in skin thickness compared to the control group, with no significant difference between the two treatment intensities. The number of micro vessels was 43% and 61% higher than in the control group, corresponding to the two treatment intensities. The difference between the intensities was also significant. Additionally, the amount of collagen increased significantly (24% and 12%).

There are numerous studies on tissue regeneration. One study I reviewed, conducted on laboratory mice, measured the healing rate of a controlled puncture injury on their back skin.

Two groups of mice had 2 mm diameter holes punctured in their back skin. Half of the mice were treated with shock waves at the injury site, while the rest served as the control group. The wound diameter was measured every two days. After eight days, the results showed faster healing in the treated group, with a higher percentage of mice fully healed within the eight-day period compared to the untreated group.

A calculation using a method that measures the number of blood vessels, their surface coverage, and branching showed a significant difference in favor of the treated group across all parameters. Below is an image of the punctured sites after complete healing.

Erectile dysfunction is a relatively well-studied topic. In all the studies I reviewed, the conclusion is consistent and significant—shock wave therapy has substantially improved function over varying periods, depending on the treatment protocols. The study summarized here focused on individuals who had not responded to erectile dysfunction medications in the past*.

The study included 31 men aged 60 (±12), who were suffering from moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. Before treatment, their function was assessed using well-known questionnaires, including the IIEF-EF, an internationally accepted index for erectile function. Each participant received four treatments, one week apart, on four different areas of the penis. After three months, they were reassessed.

The results showed an improvement in the IIEF-EF score, increasing from 16.54 to 21.03 units (±6.3). Additionally, the percentage of those who responded "yes" to the question "Were you able to penetrate your partner’s vagina?" rose from 61 to 89.

Although the questionnaires focused specifically on the technical aspects of erectile function, it seems likely that satisfaction surveys, if distributed, would also have shown at least the same level of improvement.

*Individuals with conditions such as cancer in the past year, radiation, spinal injuries, and full prostate removal were excluded from the study.

?Over the past year at Armenta, we have seen significant improvements in cow fertility. We are making progress in developing an effective and practical protocol for high-intensity uterine shockwave therapy. Studies in both humans and animals have shown that the uterus plays a crucial role in supporting the embryo, even before the development of the placenta and pregnancy. The uterus secretes nutrient-rich uterine fluids through the endometrium. These fluids contain proteins, growth factors, adhesion factors, and hormones that help the embryo attach, develop a blood vessel network, and grow until the placenta forms—processes essential for the embryo’s survival.

Shockwave therapy precisely enhances these processes, and Armenta's APTX device is the only one in the world capable of reaching the required intensity. In two completed experiments, embryo retention rates increased by an average of 50%. Currently, when it comes to cow uterine health, only medical treatments are offered, which have questionable effectiveness and primarily target bacterial infections, rather than enhancing the biological processes that support pregnancy.

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?1.????? (Huang et al., 2013; Rohringer et al., 2014; d’Agostino et al., 2015)

2.????? (de Girolamo et al., 2014)

3.????? (Ito et al., 2011; Holfeld et al., 2014; Tara et al., 2014)

4.????? (Waugh et al., 2015)

5.????? (Heimes et al., 2020)

6.????? (Nishida et al., 2004)

7.????? (Alshihri et al., 2019)

8.????? ?(Sundaram et al., 2018)

9.????? ?(Ruffo et al., 2005)