What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy uses Radial Pressure Waves (RPW) which are acoustic waves that generate oscillations in the tissue. Radial pressure wave therapy helps reduce muscle pain and activate connective tissue, temporarily aid in the increase of blood flow, and help in the treatment of tendinitis in hips and shoulders and helps to improve pain in various musculoskeletal conditions.
Who Is Shockwave Therapy For?
Shockwave therapy is designed for patients dealing with overuse injuries and soft tissue problems that have not responded to the usual fixes. If you have already tried ice, heat, bracing, and orthotics and you are still in pain, that is exactly who this treatment was built for.
We see strong results for:
- Plantar fasciitis — shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis is one of the most well-supported applications, and it was a major focus for us last year
- Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow — especially common in our active patient population and a frequent complaint heading into golf season
- Shoulder injuries — rotator cuff issues, shoulder impingement, and general shoulder complaints from overhead activity or repetitive sport
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Chronic tendon pain in the knee, hip, and ankle
- Soft tissue injuries that linger despite rest and conservative care
Golfers, yard workers, and active patients in general tend to respond very well. If spring means sore elbows and stiff shoulders for you, now is the time to address it before the season gets going.
Your First Treatment Is on Us
We do not charge for the first shockwave session. That is not a promotion. It is how we operate.
Before we bill you for anything, we want to prove the treatment is working. If shockwave is not a good fit for your condition, we will tell you that upfront and point you in the right direction. We would rather turn someone away than take their money for something that is not going to help.
This is also how we decide whether to continue. Shockwave works fast. If it is going to help, most patients feel a difference right away. That is not a coincidence. It is how the therapy works.
What to Expect During Treatment
Every session starts and ends with a movement test. Before we treat, we identify a movement or activity that is painful or limited. After treatment, we retest it. The goal is a measurable change you can feel in the room before you leave.
Here is what the process looks like:
1. Pre-test — We find your pain point or restricted movement and note it as a baseline.
2. Treatment — The shockwave handpiece is applied to the target area. Sessions typically take about 10 minutes. Most patients describe the sensation as a firm thumping or pressure. It is more intense over damaged tissue and much more comfortable over healthy tissue.
3. Retest — We check the same movement again. Most patients notice an improvement immediately. If something is going to change, you will know before you walk out the door.
Some mild soreness around the treated area in the day or two after your session is normal and expected. Think of it like the day after a hard workout. It is a sign your body is responding.
How Many Sessions Will I Need?
Shockwave therapy is not a one-and-done treatment. We like to use the gym analogy: you do not do five bicep curls and expect bigger arms. The body needs repeated stimulus to fully heal and remodel tissue.
Most patients need between 6 and 10 sessions to see lasting results. We typically reassess around session 6 and adjust from there.
What you will notice is incremental progress. Most patients report less pain, better range of motion, and improved function as the sessions accumulate. The pre/retest process at every session gives you a clear picture of how things are progressing.
How Shockwave Compares to Other Treatments
Shockwave therapy produces results for many of the same conditions treated with dry needling, and in our experience it often outperforms it for chronic tendon and soft tissue problems. For patients who have already tried other approaches, shockwave frequently gets traction where other treatments have plateaued.
It pairs especially well with low-level laser therapy for accelerated tissue healing. Many of our patients who come in for sports rehabilitation also incorporate shockwave as part of their overall recovery plan. For patients dealing with overuse injuries, it works alongside therapeutic exercise to rebuild strength once the pain settles down. And because soft tissue problems often travel with joint complaints, shockwave frequently complements chiropractic adjustment for whole-body outcomes.
What Patients Are Saying
"How is this even possible after only one treatment? I can't believe how good I feel and how much motion I have. I have been in therapy for months, had injections, been on medication for pain and now I feel great with one treatment of this machine."
— Diane, cervical spine degeneration
"I canceled the MRI and the surgical consult and my pain level is almost nonexistent. I am 90% back to work already."
— Joe, low back injury
Each patient testimonial relates an individual's response to treatment. Results vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
When applied correctly by a trained provider, shockwave therapy is safe and non-invasive. Some post-treatment soreness is normal and temporary, similar to muscle soreness after exercise. Serious adverse effects are rare. We assess every patient before starting and will not treat you if we do not think it is appropriate for your condition.
When the treatment head passes over dysfunctional tissue, patients typically report a thumping or pulsing sensation along with some soreness. When it travels over healthy tissue, most patients feel very little. That contrast actually helps us confirm we are treating the right spot.
The level of discomfort depends on the area being treated, the settings on the device, and how acute the condition is. We can adjust intensity throughout the session based on your feedback, and most patients find it very manageable. The session is about 10 minutes, so even the more noticeable moments are brief.
Minor post-treatment soreness around the involved area is not uncommon in the day or two after your session, similar to how you might feel after a tough workout. It is a normal sign the tissue is responding.
Shockwave therapy benefits include no downtime, no injections, and no surgical risk. It works directly on the tissue causing your pain and has strong outcomes for chronic tendon problems like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, and rotator cuff issues. For patients who have exhausted conservative care, it often provides relief when nothing else has worked.
We retest your painful or restricted movement at the end of every session. If the treatment is effective, you will typically feel a difference right away. Shockwave therapy before and after comparisons are something we track at every visit, not just at the end of a treatment series. That immediate feedback is one of the things patients appreciate most about this approach.
Ready to See If It Works?
Your first session is free. If shockwave is a good fit for your condition, you will feel the difference before you leave. If it is not, we will tell you that too.
Sources
1 Cristina d’Agostino M et al. Shock wave as biological therapeutic tool: From mechanical stimulation to recovery and healing, through mechanotransduction. Int J Surg. 2015 Dec;24(Pt B):147-53.
2 Damian M et al. Trigger point treatment with radial shock waves in musicians with nonspecific shoulder-neck pain: data from a special physio outpatient clinic for musicians. Med Probl Perform Art. 2011 Dec;26(4):211-7.
3 Beyazal MS et al. Comparison of the effectiveness of local corticosteroid injection and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in patients with lateral epicondylitis. J Phys Ther Sci. 2015 Dec;27(12):3755-8.
4 Cacchio A et al. Effectiveness of Radial Shock-Wave Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder: Single-Blind, Randomized Clinical Study. Phys Ther. 2006 May;86(5):672-82.
5 Rompe JD et al. Eccentric Loading Versus Eccentric Loading Plus Shock-Wave Treatment for Midportion Achilles Tendinopathy. A Randomized Controlled Trial. Am J Sports Med. 2009 Mar;37(3):463-70.
6 Furia JP et al. A single application of low-energy radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective for the management of chronic patellar tendinopathy. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2013 Feb;21(2):346-50.
7 Gerdesmeyer L et al. Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy Is Safe and Effective in the Treatment of Chronic Recalcitrant Plantar Fasciitis. Results of a Confirmatory Randomized Placebo-Controlled Multicenter Study. Am J Sports Med. 2008 Nov;36(11):2100-9.
