Photo By Jorge Gomez | A podiatrist at Irwin Army Community Hospital applies 2,500 low-intensity soundwave...... read more read more
Maj. Gus Cunningham, a Soldier with the 1st Infantry Division, became the first patient to receive shockwave therapy at Irwin Army Community Hospital and he is already reporting relief from chronic pain that once limited his mobility.
Cunningham suffered a small fracture on the outer edge of his foot after stepping into a pothole during a run. Traditional recovery can take months and sometimes requires surgery, but with the hospital’s newly acquired DUOLITH SD1 shockwave system, Cunningham’s care team sought to accelerate his healing without invasive procedures.
“The sensation was similar to a tattoo needle,” Cunningham said, “but after the first session, I could tell a difference. The pain and swelling started to go down. It gave me hope that I could heal faster and get back to doing what I love.”
Dr. Saxe said the DUOLITH SD1 allows Fort Riley to deliver a level of musculoskeletal care once available only at major cities or medical centers.
“This therapy gives us another way to help Soldiers heal faster and stay mission-ready,” said Saxe. “By offering both radial and focused shockwave treatments, we can tailor care for each individual and often prevent the need for surgery.”
Since acquiring the system in September, IACH’s orthopedic and podiatry teams have begun identifying additional Soldiers who may benefit from the treatment — particularly those with heel pain, stress fractures, and chronic tendon injuries.
For Col. Laudino Castillo, IACH commander, seeing the first success story underscores what the system was meant to achieve.
“Maj. Cunningham’s recovery shows why it was so important to bring this technology to Fort Riley,” Castillo said. “When we can deliver care like this locally, we’re not just saving travel time, we’re helping Soldiers recover sooner and stay in the fight.”
Cunningham’s early results mirror what clinical studies have shown that most patients report improvement after three to five sessions.
For the 1st Infantry Division, that means fewer lost training days, faster return to duty, and stronger medical readiness across the formation.
| Date Taken: | 10.04.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 15:42 |
| Story ID: | 551133 |
| Location: | FORT RILEY, KANSAS, US |
| Web Views: | 18 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, First Soldier to Benefit from IACH’s Shockwave Therapy, by Jorge Gomez, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
