Shockwave Therapy, What is it?
Radial Shockwave Application
Introducing Shockwave Therapy at Northcenter Healthcare
By: Zach Main DC
At Northcenter Healthcare, we’re continuously looking for innovative ways to help our patients heal, move better, and live pain-free. That’s why we’re excited to introduce Shockwave Therapy, a non-invasive, cutting-edge treatment that promotes healing for musculoskeletal conditions, chronic pain, and those nagging injuries that just won’t seem to go away.
If you’ve been struggling with consistent pain, tendon issues, or limited mobility, shockwave therapy could be a game-changer for you. But what exactly is it, and how does it work? Let’s dig in.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy otherwise known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses mechanical sound waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues. The technology was originally developed for breaking up kidney stones (lithotripsy), but over time, researchers discovered that it also has powerful benefits for treating musculoskeletal conditions like tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and chronic pain.
Our HandyWave Radial Shockwave Machine (Kinas Medical) delivers these mechanical sound waves in a focused, controlled manner. The energy penetrates up to 2.5 inches into the body, targeting areas of inflammation and damage which ultimately results in increased blood flow, reduced pain, and enhanced tissue regeneration.
It gets better! Shockwave therapy doesn’t just relieve pain—it actively promotes healing by kickstarting the body’s natural repair processes. This makes it an excellent option for people who have tried other treatments without success or are looking for a way to avoid surgery.
How Does It Work?
When the acoustic waves from the shockwave machine reach the injured area, they trigger a cascade of biological responses, including:
Increased Blood Flow – Shockwave helps with the formation of tiny new blood vessels (angiogenesis), which improves circulation and brings more oxygen and nutrients to the injured tissue.
Breakdown of Scar Tissue and Calcium Deposits – This therapy has been shown to break down stubborn scar tissue and calcium buildup, which can contribute to stiffness and chronic pain.
Stimulation of Collagen Production – Collagen is a key building block of healthy tendons and ligaments. Shockwave therapy has been shown to encourage the body to produce new collagen, which strengthens and repairs damaged tissues.
Pain Reduction – The mechanical energy from shockwave therapy inhibits pain receptors, providing relief by decreasing nerve sensitivity and reducing inflammation.
Cellular Regeneration – The sound waves stimulate cellular activity, which speeds up the healing process, even in tissues that have been slow to recover.
Most patients start seeing improvement within a few sessions, but the full effects of shockwave therapy continue to develop over several weeks as the body repairs itself.
Why Choose Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy has been studied extensively, and as more research is being published, it is becoming increasingly popular worldwide in sports medicine, orthopedics, and physical rehabilitation. Here are some reasons as to why it’s becoming a go-to treatment option in musculoskeletal care:
- It is non-invasive. This is self-explanatory but think: no surgery, no injections, no long-term recovery downtime.
- It is extremely safe and relatively well tolerated. Side effects of shockwave are minimal and are typically limited to mild soreness.
- Fast & Effective. Shockwave has been seen to provide relief in as little as 3-5 sessions. Most patients do report a reduction in symptoms after just one session.
- Supported by Science. Several studies support shockwave (and its effectiveness for conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow, and more). As an example, shockwave therapy has been proven to be more effective than a corticosteroid injection for pain reduction and long-term functional improvement.
Conditions Shockwave Therapy May Help With
These are just some of the musculoskeletal conditions that might benefit from the use of shockwave therapy:
Neck Pain & Headaches
Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Osteoarthritis (OA)
Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow
Ligament Injuries in the Knee, Hip, and Ankle
Calcific Tendonitis
Patellar tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Achilles tendinopathy/tendon bursitis
Plantar fasciitis
Frozen Shoulder
Rotator Cuff Strain
Shin Splints
Chronic Stress Fractures
Shockwave is an affordable solution for many indications, especially for chronic injuries or conditions that are generally slower to recover or haven’t responded well to conventional treatments.
There are, however, a few cases where shockwave therapy is not recommended. The only known contraindications for shockwave therapy include:
Pregnancy – Shockwave therapy is not recommended for pregnant individuals.
Malignancy (Cancerous Tumors) – It should not be directly used in areas affected by cancer.
Some other precautions would include avoiding treatment in the following areas of the body:
Acute local infection
Within 6 weeks of a cortisone injection
If you’re curious about whether shockwave therapy is right for you, we’d love to help! Schedule a free discovery call at Northcenter Healthcare and take the next step toward pain relief and recovery.
References:
d’Agostino MC, Craig K, Tibalt E, Respizzi S. Shock wave as biological therapeutic tool: From mechanical stimulation to recovery and healing, through mechanotransduction. International Journal of Surgery. 2015;24:147-153. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.11.030
Leal C, D’Agostino C, Gomez Garcia S, Fernandez A. Current concepts of shockwave therapy in stress fractures. International Journal of Surgery. 2015;24:195-200. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.07.723
Schmitz C, Császár NB, Milz S, et al. Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for orthopedic conditions: A systematic review on studies listed in the pedro database. British Medical Bulletin. Published online November 18, 2015:ldv047. doi:10.1093/bmb/ldv047
Zhang YF, Liu Y, Chou SW, Weng H. Dose-related effects of radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy for knee osteoarthritis: A randomized controlled trial. J Rehabil Med. 2021;53(1):jrm00144. Published 2021 Jan 13. doi:10.2340/16501977-2782