Alleviate pain and improve mobility without surgery
Learn more about LDRT:
What is low-dose radiotherapy (LDRT)?
LDRT is a type of medical treatment that uses precise, targeted radiation in a low dose, spread over multiple treatments to alleviate the pain and inflammation associated with various benign conditions.
What does LDRT treat?
LDRT reduces inflammation and pain, promoting faster recovery and improved joint function. Clinical evidence supports the use of LDRT for osteoarthritis, Dupuytren’s contracture, and Ledderhose disease, among other conditions.
Who is a candidate for LDRT?
Patients over 50-years-old who are unresponsive to other types of pain management treatments and/or those who are unsuitable surgical candidates could be considered for LDRT. If you think you would benefit from this treatment, talk to your medical provider for further details.
Is LDRT effective?
Numerous recent studies have shown moderate to long-term pain relief and mobility improvement after treatment with LDRT for joints affected by osteoarthritis. Additional conditions have also shown improvement after treatment with LDRT, including plantar fasciitis, Dupuytren’s contracture, Ledderhose disease and other inflammatory conditions, such as keloid scars. LDRT has been shown to be a cost-effective, non-invasive treatment with minimal side effects.
How long has LDRT been used?
LDRT has been around for more than a century and it is used extensively as a first line treatment in Germany for osteoarthritis. In the United States, however, the treatment has been minimally used for benign conditions. More recently, with the expanded availably of low-dose radiotherapy equipment and refined guidelines, clinical use has become more prevalent.
What is the treatment process?
Depending on the medical condition, the number of treatment sessions may vary. Typically, there will be a consultation, followed by a simulation and treatment planning visit. The treatment itself is usually delivered in 6-10 visits, which last 15-minute each, in your doctor’s office. Patients report decreased pain as well as improved joint function and mobility following a course of LDRT treatment.
Who will be on my care team and what are their roles?
If you are receiving care directly in your physician’s office, your physician will continue overseeing your care. A doctor who specializes in radiation medicine will evaluate your condition and provide the treatment plan. A specialized medical technician called a radiotherapist will be with you during your treatment and will position your affected area for treatment. The LDRT delivery device will provide the treatment over the course of a few visits, depending on your condition and treatment plan. LDRT will be painless and quick.
