ESWT and EMTT Help a Rising Athlete Return to Play Faster in a Remarkable 2-Week Comeback

When St. Laurence High School’s shortstop Ben G. suffered an acute ankle sprain, a traditional 6–8 week recovery threatened to sideline his entire season. To avoid missing the rest of the season, he and his parents sought out Dr. Michael Chin, DPM, FACFAS, a leader in regenerative medicine and an avid youth sports and baseball fan whose own son is a superstar high school pitcher and D1 college recruit. 

Dr. Chin utilized a rapid, non-invasive combination of EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Technology) and Focused Shockwave (ESWT-Extracorporeal Shockwave Technology) to stimulate cellular repair, reduce swelling, and dramatically accelerate Ben's healing timeline, allowing him to return to play in just two weeks.

The Problem: A Lengthy Recovery Timeline

Ben G., the starting shortstop for St. Laurence High School, suffered an acute ankle sprain after stepping on a teammate's foot during a warm-up just before a crucial game in Florida. The injury caused immediate, severe pain and significant swelling, making movement extremely difficult. During his visit to urgent care, Ben’s physician made note of the severe swelling and prescribed the traditional RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) method, along with a walking boot. The initial projected timeline for returning to play was 6 to 8 weeks, leaving Ben feeling devastated, and fearing his season was over.

The Solution: Expert Use of Shockwave and EMTT

In desperate need of a faster path to recovery, Ben sought treatment from Dr. Michael Chin, a renowned podiatrist specializing in regenerative therapies at The Running Institute.

Dr. Chin proposed an innovative, non-invasive approach, combining two technologies specifically made to accelerate healing and reduce inflammation:

1. EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Technology): Uses high-intensity magnetic pulses to enhance cellular metabolism, improve membrane permeability, and trigger a cascade of healing responses. It reactivates ion pumps, leading to increased calcium influx into the cell, which signals healing pathways. This process promotes cell differentiation and repair, reduces inflammation, and stimulates the body's natural regenerative processes.
   
   
2. Focused Shockwave (ESWT-Extracorporeal Shockwave Technology):  Activates cellular signaling pathways, promoting a cascade of biological responses like increased cell proliferation, the release of growth factors, and the recruitment of stem cells to stimulate tissue repair. This leads to increased collagen synthesis, neovascularization, reduced inflammation, and accelerated healing. 

Steps Taken for Recovery

The regenerative treatment protocol began just 4-5 days after the acute injury, significantly earlier than the traditional RICE timeline suggests.

• Session 1: The initial session of combined EMTT and ESWT was administered. Ben immediately reported and observed a noticeable reduction in swelling and discoloration, and a decrease in pain when attempting to walk.
• Subsequent Sessions: For the two weeks immediately following the injury, Dr. Chin treated Ben for a total of three sessions of Focused Shockwave and EMTT.

This accelerated schedule focused on maximizing the body's natural healing response without relying on prolonged immobilization or medication.

The Result: Faster Return to Play

Dr. Chin's innovative approach reduced the recovery timeline by over 70%, demonstrating a truly game-changing outcome for Ben.

• Return to Play: Ben was back in uniform and playing competitive baseball two weeks after the ankle sprain’s onset, dramatically beating the traditional 6–8 week prognosis.
• Season Success: Ben helped his team achieve a remarkable 37–5 record, culminating in the school’s first state baseball title, with Ben fielding the grounder that sealed the final out.
• Patient Feedback: Ben strongly endorses the treatment, stating he would "absolutely do it again if needed" for a high-level, speedy recovery.

Dr. Chin's approach with EMTT and ESWT is redefining how athletes recover from acute musculoskeletal injuries. Instead of sitting out for months, athletes are returning to competition faster, stronger, and more confident — all without relying on invasive procedures or prolonged immobilization.

Ben’s case successfully demonstrates the power of combining EMTT and ESWT to achieve rapid, effective, and safe recovery for athletes dealing with acute musculoskeletal injuries, proving that setbacks don't have to derail a season or a career.

Important to Note: The treatments and use of EPAT®, ESWT, and EMTT® described in this article reflect the personal clinical experience of the practitioner and are not intended as claims of efficacy.