Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses targeted acoustic waves applied through the skin to an injured or painful area. It is most often used for certain musculoskeletal conditions involving tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissue.

Rather than treating the whole body at once, shockwave therapy is used to target one area that has remained painful, irritated, or slow to recover. The goal is to help stimulate healing in that area and support progress when recovery has started to stall. 

Shockwave therapy delivers mechanical energy into the affected tissue through a handheld device. It sends a series of targeted pulses into the area being treated. These pulses are used to stimulate a healing response, increase blood flow in the treated area, and help a painful or irritated area become less sensitive over time.

It is often considered when tendon, ligament, or soft-tissue pain has lasted for a while and is not improving enough with more standard treatment approaches, rest, activity modification, or exercise alone.  

Shockwave therapy is most often used for painful tendon and soft tissue conditions that have been slow to recover, especially when they are affecting movement, exercise, or return to activity. These are often the kinds of conditions that can keep a painful area irritated over time and make it harder to progress with rehabilitation.

Shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and support recovery for conditions such as:

• Plantar fasciitis or heel spurs
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy
• Calcific shoulder pain
• Frozen shoulder
• Patellar tendinopathy, also known as jumper’s knee
• Hip bursitis
• Iliotibial band syndrome
• Shin splints or running-related injuries
• De Quervain’s tenosynovitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Some presentations of persistent back pain
• Other persistent muscle, tendon, ligament, or soft-tissue pain

A clinical assessment is needed to determine whether shockwave therapy is appropriate for your condition.

One of the main benefits of shockwave therapy is that it offers a more targeted, non-invasive treatment option when pain has been difficult to settle.

Shockwave therapy may help:

• Reduce persistent pain
• Make movement and rehabilitation easier to tolerate
• Support healing in certain tendon and soft tissue conditions
• Help some people avoid more invasive treatment options
• Move recovery forward when progress has slowed 

Shockwave therapy at Lifemark may be provided by a clinician such as a physiotherapist or chiropractor, depending on the location and care plan.

It is typically used as part of a broader rehabilitation approach rather than on its own. It may be combined with exercise, movement-based treatment, education, activity modification, load management, or other hands-on care. That is because recovery often depends on more than treating one painful area alone. Strength, function, and tolerance for movement also need to improve over time. 

Your first visit may include a discussion about your symptoms, health history, treatment goals, and any previous care you have received.

Your clinician may assess movement, strength, and the affected area to confirm whether shockwave therapy is appropriate. If it is, they will explain how the treatment may fit into your overall care plan.

If indicated, your care may include:

• Targeted shockwave therapy sessions
• Activity modification and load management
• Mobility and strengthening exercises
• Education to help you manage symptoms and support recovery

Treatment is typically delivered over several sessions. The number and frequency of sessions may vary depending on your condition, symptoms, and response to care. 

Most patients describe shockwave therapy as a tapping, pulsing, or rapid pressure sensation over the area being treated. If the area is already sore or sensitive, it may feel uncomfortable during treatment, but the sensation is usually brief and manageable.

The intensity is typically increased gradually and can often be adjusted based on your tolerance. Some people may also notice mild soreness or aching afterward, but this is usually temporary.