The Shockwave Therapy Blog | CuraMedix

Innovation in Neurology: The Use of Shockwave and EMTT for Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Management

Written by Ryann Pignataro | June 17, 2025

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the destruction of the myelin sheaths in the Central Nervous System (CNS), thus disrupting the transmission of nerve signals. It can lead to a range of neurological symptoms, including numbness and tingling, muscle weakness and spasms, fatigue, vision problems, balance and coordination difficulties, cognitive problems, and pain. As of right now, there is no cure for MS. Symptoms are able to be managed with therapies and medications, but it cannot be fully treated, and there are no long-term studies on the evolution of the disease.

Over 2.8 million people in the world suffer from MS, and in the US alone, over 1 million. In this month’s practice profile, CuraMedix is highlighting one medical professional who is blazing a trail, testing the effectiveness of the full suite of CuraMedix devices powered by STORZ Medical on patients with MS, and achieving some incredible results.

A Practice Built for Comprehensive Care and Innovation

At Impact Physical Therapy and Wellness, Dr. Keith Roed, PT, DPT, CMPT, serves a diverse patient population, helping pre and post-surgical patients, active athletes, and seniors alike. He has embraced the positive outcomes that advanced technologies bring to the table by adding Extracorporeal Shockwave Technology (ESWT), Extracorporeal Pulse Activated Technology (EPAT®), and Magnetotransduction (EMTT®) to his armamentarium, and has successfully integrated them into his continuum of care. 

Dr. Roed introduced Radial Pressure Wave (EPAT®) and EMTT® to his practice first, then later added ESWT. Since adding EMTT®, he’s seen a boost in not only patient outcomes, but in practice revenue as well. He uses all three modalities on a majority of his patients, but if finances play a role for his patients, then he opts to only use the most efficient technology for the pathology he is targeting. On it being a cash-pay modality, Dr. Roed says he finds he often doesn’t have as much pushback from patients as people would think. 

“Patients are looking for holistic ways to heal that do not include taking pills and relying on injections. They often want to avoid surgery at all costs. This is a great option for those individuals looking to avoid all of those things while gently nudging their bodies in the right direction to encourage real healing,” he says.

Traditionally, Dr. Roed has utilized Shockwave and EMTT® to treat a wide array of musculoskeletal issues, ranging from low back pain to shoulder, foot, ankle, and knee injuries.  At the 2025 Institute for Tissue Regeneration and Repair Conference in Phoenix, however, Dr. Roed revealed that he’s been pushing the boundaries of what the full suite of CuraMedix devices is capable of, and debuted his most recent endeavor: using Shockwave and EMTT® for patients facing complex neurological conditions, specifically those with Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

A Breakthrough in Multiple Sclerosis Symptom Management: Unprecedented Success

Dr. Roed’s segue into using ESWT, EPAT®, and EMTT® for MS began in late 2022, around the time he acquired his first EMTT® device. A new patient came to his office in search of treatment for a cervical disk herniation. Another practitioner recommended surgery, but she sought out Dr. Roed in an effort to find a non-invasive solution. 

During her consultation with Dr. Roed, the patient mentioned that she had Relapsing Remitting MS. She suffered from chronic fatigue, stiffness, and uncontrollable movements. She reported it often took her about 2-3 hours each day to simply “get going” as she was burdened by pain and stiffness. She also had a right-sided facial droop, and hadn’t been able to smile for nearly three years. 

Dr. Roed’s primary hypothesis and purpose for using EMTT® was to see if it could also be effective at reducing the inflammation, thus reducing her symptoms. He applied EPAT® to help address her muscle tightness, and the results he saw following treatment were astounding. His patient came back into the office with more energy, coordination, and trunk control. The speed with which she moved had greatly improved, and her eyesight went from a level 10 to a level 1 prism, but perhaps most profoundly, she told Dr. Roed that he “gave her back her smile” by almost completely eliminating her facial droop. To investigate further, he initiated a case series, developed a preliminary treatment protocol, and recruited a small group of MS patients to determine if the initial results could be replicated.

Another MS patient entered Dr. Roed’s office as a skeptic. She’d been diagnosed nearly thirty years prior and was categorized as Primary Progressive MS. She had come to terms with the fact that her symptoms, specifically difficulty walking, could only be managed and not reduced. She had seen a significant decline in function and, prior to her visit with Dr. Roed, had nearly given up hope.

After her first treatment, she felt differently. Her skepticism kept her “waiting for the other shoe to drop,” anticipating that her symptoms would return. However, she noticed a remarkable improvement in her gait and strength almost immediately, along with a drastic improvement in her energy levels, a reduction in fatigue, and improved balance and coordination. As the weeks went on, the patient continued to see progress, and no regression. Her condition improved so much that she was able to jog for the first time in over 30 years - something her 27-year-old daughter had never seen her do. Since beginning this treatment protocol nearly two years ago, she hasn’t needed to take her normal medications to alleviate the symptoms of her MS, and to this day, her motor function has not declined.

The Vision: Changing The Approach For Neurological Conditions

Dr. Roed is in the preliminary stages of learning how Shockwave and EMTT® can benefit patients with MS, and as such, he’s not at the point where he can disclose the finer details of his treatment protocols. He plans to set up an official study and find more individuals to treat, so he can continue refining his protocols and testing his hypothesis. He has now seen six cases, all of which have responded positively to Shockwave and EMTT® sessions. Though it’s still early, it’s an incredible step in the right direction, as it could change the dynamic significantly for individuals suffering with neurologic conditions by helping them in a non-invasive manner, and potentially without the need for medications. 

A development like this also opens doors for other neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s, among others. The future of regenerative medicine for these pathologies looks bright, and practitioners can expect to see more technologies emerging in this space soon. 

A Transformational Partnership

Dr. Roed’s partnership with CuraMedix has been instrumental in delivering high-level care and helping over 200 patients avoid surgery. 

“I still pinch myself at times when I think about the amazing results we’ve seen from our patients - pathologies that I would have otherwise thought to be very difficult, if not impossible to treat.”

The partnership has also been great for the business from a revenue standpoint. ”Being a standalone outpatient physical therapy practice, where reimbursements are consistently declining, this option not only helps the patients, but has been incredibly helpful for the practice to help offset declining reimbursements. This revenue boost allows us to spend our time delivering the level of care we want to provide for our patients, and significantly enhances the quality of care we are able to provide.” 

As the leading US distributor of STORZ Medical devices, including Radial Pressure Wave (EPAT®), Extracorporeal Shockwave (ESWT), and Magnetotransduction (EMTT®), CuraMedix is known for unrivaled service, support, education, and training. With the right tools in your armamentarium, and training and guidance from CuraMedix, you can not only increase your caseload, but increase the number of positive outcomes achieved on a weekly basis.

As regenerative technologies evolve, more practitioners like Dr. Roed are using EPAT®, ESWT, and/or EMTT® technologies to build a successful practice. 

Ready to join them, and provide next-level patient care for your patients? Contact us and we can connect you with one of our experts today.