What is shockwave therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses targeted acoustic pressure waves to stimulate your body's natural healing response. The pulses increase blood flow, break down calcifications, and trigger tissue regeneration in areas that have stopped healing on their own.
It's particularly effective for conditions that haven't responded to rest, ice, or traditional physical therapy alone. Most patients notice improvement within 3–4 sessions.
What does shockwave treat?
- Plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Golfer's elbow (medial epicondylitis)
- Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee)
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Calcific tendonitis
- Chronic heel pain
- Myofascial trigger points
- Hip bursitis
- TMJ dysfunction (jaw pain & myofascial tension)
What to expect during a session
Shockwave sessions are quick — typically 10–15 minutes of active treatment. Your therapist will apply a gel to the treatment area and use a handheld device to deliver focused pulses. You'll feel a tapping sensation that ranges from mild to moderately intense, depending on the area being treated.
There's no downtime after treatment. You can return to normal activities immediately, though we may recommend modifying intense exercise for 24–48 hours.
How many sessions do I need?
Most conditions respond well to 5–6 sessions, spaced about a week apart. Your therapist will assess your progress and adjust the treatment plan accordingly. Many patients see meaningful improvement within the first few sessions.
Pricing
What the research says
Radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) has been studied extensively and is supported by a growing body of peer-reviewed evidence. Key findings include:
- Plantar fasciitis — Multiple randomized controlled trials demonstrate significant reductions in heel pain and improved function, with effects sustained at 12-month follow-up.
- Calcific shoulder tendinitis — High-quality RCTs show RSWT effectively reduces calcification size and pain, outperforming sham treatment and corticosteroid injections in long-term outcomes.
- Achilles tendinopathy — RSWT combined with eccentric exercise produces superior outcomes compared to exercise alone, with particularly strong evidence for mid-portion Achilles pathology.
- Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) — Studies support RSWT as an effective non-surgical option, especially for chronic cases unresponsive to other conservative treatments.
- TMJ & myofascial pain — Emerging evidence supports RSWT for reducing jaw pain, masticatory muscle tension, and improving mouth opening in TMJ dysfunction.
Key references include work by Gerdesmeyer et al. (plantar fasciitis ESWT RCT), Speed et al. (tendinopathy), and Ogden et al. (fasciopathy). Radial shockwave is recognized as a first-line non-surgical intervention in multiple international clinical guidelines.
Is shockwave therapy right for me?
Shockwave therapy works best for chronic conditions — especially those that have lingered for months despite other treatments. If you've been dealing with a stubborn tendon issue, heel pain that won't quit, or a soft tissue injury that plateaued, shockwave may be the breakthrough you need.
Not sure? Call us and we'll help you figure out if shockwave is the right fit for your condition.