What Is Shockwave Therapy Used For?

StemWave shockwave therapy is used for chronic soft tissue injuries and overuse conditions that haven't responded well to other conservative treatments.

The technology works by delivering focused acoustic pressure waves into damaged tissue. At the cellular level, that mechanical stimulus triggers a biological healing response: angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), stem cell activation, breakdown of calcium deposits, and stimulation of collagen production. The body essentially receives a signal to restart the healing process in tissue that had gone into a chronic, non-healing state.

At Full Swing Healthcare, we use StemWave for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, calcific shoulder conditions, IT band syndrome, and chronic soft tissue injuries in the lower back. It's also used in some cases of hip bursitis and for scar tissue breakdown after surgical procedures.

Shockwave is most useful when something has been present for more than three months and hasn't responded to rest, physical therapy, cortisone injections, or other conservative care. It's particularly well-suited for tendinopathies because tendons have poor blood supply and limited healing capacity. Shockwave compensates for that by mechanically stimulating the tissue to heal itself.