How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

When you hear the word physical therapy, what comes to mind? Probably a combination of massage, hot and cold therapy, and targeted exercises. 

However, physical therapy goes beyond these traditional techniques. Take shockwave therapy, for example. 

Although the name sounds like it involves electric shocks, the reality is that this minimally invasive treatment can support healing after soft tissue injuries and even ease chronic pain. 

At Preserve Physical Therapy in The Woodlands and Magnolia, Texas, physical therapist Rupal Mehta, PT, MS, DPT, PhD, uses shockwave therapy to treat various injuries and musculoskeletal conditions. 

This article explains what shockwave therapy is, some of the conditions it can help manage, and what to expect during treatment.

Understanding shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a noninvasive treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to support your body’s healing process.

During treatment, Dr. Mehta or another member of our team runs a handheld device over a specific part of your body, such as your elbow or the bottom of your foot. 

The device emits acoustic waves that penetrate your skin, increasing blood flow to the targeted area. 

Over time, this reduces pain and inflammation and encourages the production of new, healthy tissue.

Shockwave therapy is commonly recommended for athletes and other active people. However, it can also benefit those experiencing chronic soft tissue injuries who want to avoid surgery.

Common conditions that may benefit from shockwave therapy

We use shockwave therapy to treat a variety of common soft-tissue injuries, including:

• Plantar fasciitis
• Tennis elbow
• Shoulder tendinopathy
• Rotator cuff injuries
• Achilles tendinitis
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Foot pain
• Neck pain
• Knee pain

Shockwave therapy can also treat chronic muscle and tendon injuries that don’t respond to other types of conservative care, such as ice, rest, and massage.

What to expect during shockwave therapy 

Shockwave therapy is an outpatient procedure that typically takes 15-20 minutes.

Before treatment begins, you sit or lie down on an exam table, and we apply a gel to your skin. Then, we carefully run the handheld shockwave device over the treatment site.

The device emits a series of high-frequency sound waves that penetrate your skin and stimulate the injured or inflamed tissue. 

It’s normal to feel a tapping or pulsing sensation, similar to a deep tissue massage. The process is not uncomfortable.

Following your shockwave session, you can return to work and other activities immediately. There’s no downtime or anesthesia, so you don’t have to worry about feeling groggy or needing someone to drive you home.

Some people notice an improvement in their symptoms after a single treatment. However, we typically recommend 3-5 sessions, as the results are cumulative and become more noticeable over time.

Benefits of shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy offers various benefits for people who need to manage soft tissue injuries or persistent musculoskeletal pain. 

Since it’s noninvasive, you don’t have to worry about incisions or injections. There’s no downtime, and it can be combined with other aspects of physical therapy, such as massage and strength training, to optimize your results. 

See if shockwave therapy is right for you

If you’re struggling to recover from a sports injury or have chronic pain that keeps you from activities you enjoy, shockwave therapy may help. 

To see if you can benefit, contact us today to request a consultation. Call (832) 510-3967 or book your appointment online.