Medical Shockwave Therapy

Advanced Non-Surgical Treatment for Chronic Pain, Arthritis, and Sports Injuries

Restore Spine & Joint Center offers advanced Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) using medical-grade Storz shockwave systems.

Shockwave therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing process and is commonly used to treat chronic musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries.

Unlike many clinics that use low-energy devices, we utilize both Focused and Radial shockwave technology. This allows precise treatment of both deep and superficial orthopedic conditions.

All patients receive a physician consultation, and treatments are performed under medical supervision.

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Combination Therapy (PRP + Stem Cells + EPAT+ ESWT )

In selected cases, outcomes may be enhanced when Shockwave Therapy is combined with regenerative treatments such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) or autologous Stem Cell therapy, as shockwaves can stimulate tissue metabolism, improve circulation, and help create a more favorable biological environment that may support the healing response of regenerative injections.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic energy waves to stimulate healing in injured tissues.
These waves activate the body’s natural repair mechanisms by:

Increasing blood flow to injured tissue
Stimulating collagen production
Reducing chronic inflammation
Breaking down calcifications and scar tissue
Accelerating tendon and ligament healing

Shockwave therapy is widely used in sports medicine, orthopedic rehabilitation, and regenerative medicine clinics worldwide.

Shockwave Therapy Clinical Evidence

View Clinical Evidence

Conditions Treated

Shockwave therapy is commonly used for chronic musculoskeletal pain, arthritis, and sports injuries.

Knee

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT

Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)
Quadriceps Tendinopathy
Pes Anserine Tendinopathy / Bursitis
Myofascial Pain around the Knee (Trigger Points in Quadriceps, Hamstrings, IT band)
Patellar Insertional Tendinopathy

Shockwaves stimulate tendon regeneration and neovascularization.

Clinical trials show significant pain reduction and improved function in chronic tendinopathy.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT

Knee Osteoarthritis (especially mild–moderate)
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (Runner’s Knee)
Medial Collateral Ligament (MCL) chronic strain
Iliotibial Band Syndrome (ITB syndrome)
Pes Anserine bursitis (chronic)
Chronic synovitis with soft-tissue inflammation

ESWT can reduce pain and improve knee function in osteoarthritis, with focused ESWT often producing stronger results. Typical mechanism:

Anti-inflammatory effects
Stimulation of subchondral bone remodeling
Improved microcirculation

Emerging Knee Indications (Growing Research)

Early cartilage degeneration / regenerative stimulation
Subchondral bone lesions
Osgood-Schlatter disease
Post-arthroscopy pain syndromes
Neuropathic knee pain

Shockwaves can stimulate bone, tendon, ligament, and fascia healing, explaining why the therapy is expanding into new orthopedic indications. In some patients, combining Shockwave Therapy with PRP or Stem Cell treatments may help amplify the body’s natural healing response and improve clinical outcomes.

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HIP

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT
These conditions generally show a strong clinical response and predictable improvement with shockwave therapy.

Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (GTPS)
Gluteus Medius Tendinopathy
Gluteus Minimus Tendinopathy
Trochanteric Bursitis (chronic)
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy
Myofascial Pain of the Hip (trigger points in gluteal and hip musculature)

Why these respond well:

Shockwaves stimulate tendon healing and neovascularization.
Reduce chronic inflammation and stimulate tissue regeneration.
Particularly effective in chronic tendinopathy resistant to physical therapy or injections.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT These conditions may show symptom improvement and functional benefit, though outcomes depend on disease severity and underlying structural pathology.

Hip Osteoarthritis (mild to moderate)
Iliotibial Band Syndrome at the Hip
Hip Flexor Tendinopathy (Iliopsoas tendinitis)
Deep Gluteal Syndrome (piriformis-related pain)
Chronic Hip Capsule Inflammation
Chronic Hip Strain Injuries

Foot and Ankle

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT These conditions generally show a strong clinical response and predictable improvement with shockwave therapy.

Plantar Fasciitis (chronic plantar heel pain)
Calcific Plantar Fasciopathy / Heel Spur Syndrome
Achilles Tendinopathy (insertional and mid-portion)
Peroneal Tendinopathy
Tibialis Posterior Tendinopathy
Myofascial Pain of the Foot and Ankle (trigger points in calf and foot muscles)

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT
These conditions may show symptom improvement and functional benefit, though outcomes depend on disease severity and underlying structural pathology.

Hip
Retrocalcaneal Bursitis
Haglund’s Syndrome
Ankle Tendinopathies (general chronic tendinitis)
Chronic Ankle Sprain / Ligament Strain
Sinus Tarsi Syndrome
Stress Reaction of Foot Bones
Chronic Heel Pain without clear plantar fasciitis
*Peripheral Neuropathy (experimental use)

Shoulder

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT
These conditions typically demonstrate strong clinical response and predictable improvement with shockwave therapy.

Calcific Tendinitis of the Rotator Cuff (especially supraspinatus calcifications)
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy (supraspinatus, infraspinatus)
Subacromial Pain Syndrome
Subacromial Bursitis (chronic)
Myofascial Pain of the Shoulder (trigger points in rotator cuff and periscapular muscles)

Why these respond well:

Shockwaves can break down calcific deposits within tendons.
Stimulate tendon healing and neovascularization.
Reduce chronic inflammation and promote tissue regeneration.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT These conditions often improve pain and shoulder function, although response depends on severity and structural damage.

Non-calcific Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Bicipital Tendinitis (Long Head of Biceps)
Shoulder Impingement Syndrome
Deltoid Tendinopathy
Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Pain related to soft-tissue inflammation
Partial Rotator Cuff Tears
Adhesive Capsulitis (Frozen Shoulder)
Shoulder Osteoarthritis
Chronic Shoulder Instability-related pain
Post-surgical Shoulder Pain or Scar Tissue

Emerging Shoulder Indications These are newer areas of clinical interest where ESWT is increasingly studied.

Early Shoulder Cartilage Degeneration
Tendon Calcification in Other Rotator Cuff Tendons
Chronic Sports-related Shoulder Injuries
Scapulothoracic Myofascial Pain Syndromes
Early Degenerative Tendon Changes

Elbow

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT These conditions generally demonstrate excellent clinical response and predictable improvement with shockwave therapy.

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)
Medial Epicondylitis (Golfer’s Elbow)
Common Extensor Tendinopathy
Common Flexor Tendinopathy
Myofascial Pain around the Elbow (trigger points in forearm extensors and flexors)

Why these respond well:

Shockwaves stimulate tendon regeneration and neovascularization.
Reduce chronic inflammation in degenerative tendinopathy.
Promote collagen remodeling and tissue healing in chronic overuse injuries.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT These conditions may show improvement in pain and functional mobility, although response may vary depending on the severity of underlying pathology.

Distal Biceps Tendinopathy
Triceps Tendinopathy
Olecranon Bursitis (chronic)
Chronic Elbow Strain Injuries
Elbow Tendinitis related to repetitive sports or occupational strain

Emerging Elbow Indications These are areas of ongoing research where ESWT is increasingly being explored.

Early Cartilage Degeneration of the Elbow
Chronic Sports-related Elbow Injuries (throwing athletes)
Tendon Calcifications around the Elbow
Chronic Overuse Injuries in Athletes
Neuropathic Elbow Pain (selected cases)

Radial vs Focused Shockwave Therapy

Radial Shockwave

Radial shockwave spreads energy over a larger treatment area.
Common uses include:

Muscle trigger points
Tendinitis
Myofascial pain

Focused Shockwave

Focused shockwave delivers high-precision energy deep into tissues.
Common uses include:

Chronic tendon injuries
Calcific tendinitis
Deep ligament conditions
Persistent sports injuries

Using both technologies allows treatments to be customized based on each patient’s condition.

Wrist and Hand

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT
These conditions generally show a strong clinical response and predictable improvement with shockwave therapy.

De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Wrist Extensor Tendinopathy
Wrist Flexor Tendinopathy
Trigger Finger (stenosing tenosynovitis – early to moderate cases)
Myofascial Pain of the Wrist and Hand (trigger points in forearm and hand musculature)

Why these respond well:

Shockwaves stimulate tendon healing and neovascularization.
Reduce chronic inflammation in tendon sheaths.
Promote collagen remodeling and tissue regeneration in chronic overuse injuries.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT These conditions may show improvement in pain and function, although outcomes can vary depending on severity.

Intersection Syndrome
Tendinitis of the Wrist and Hand
Early Thumb Carpometacarpal (CMC) Joint Arthritis
Wrist Ligament Strain Injuries
Chronic Wrist Pain related to overuse or repetitive strain
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Ganglion Cyst–related Wrist Pain
Wrist Osteoarthritis
Chronic Post-surgical Wrist Pain
Degenerative Tendon Tears of the Hand

Spine Conditions Treated with Radial and Focused ESWT (STORZ System)

Conditions MOST EFFECTIVELY Treated with ESWT

These conditions typically show a strong clinical response, particularly when the pain source is muscular, fascial, or ligamentous.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Cervical Spine
Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Thoracic Spine
Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Lumbar Spine
Paraspinal Muscle Spasm and Chronic Muscle Tightness
Sacroiliac Joint (SIJ) Ligamentous Pain
Iliolumbar Ligament Syndrome
Trigger Points in Paraspinal Muscles (multifidus, quadratus lumborum, trapezius)
Chronic Non-specific Back Pain

Why these respond well:

Shockwaves help release trigger points and reduce muscle hypertonicity.
Stimulate improved blood circulation and tissue metabolism.
Promote healing in chronic soft-tissue and ligament injuries.

Conditions MODERATELY EFFECTIVE with ESWT

These conditions may show symptom improvement and functional benefit, although outcomes depend on the severity of underlying pathology.

Cervical Facet Joint Pain (adjacent soft tissues)
Lumbar Facet Syndrome (soft tissue component)
Thoracic Spine Mechanical Pain
Chronic Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction
Thoracolumbar Fascia Pain Syndrome
Chronic Postural Spine Pain (tech neck, prolonged sitting)

Conditions LESS MODERATELY EFFECTIVE (Adjunctive / Selected Cases)

Shockwave therapy may provide adjunctive symptom relief, but outcomes are less predictable when structural spinal pathology is present.

Degenerative Disc Disease–related back pain
Lumbar Disc Herniation–related mechanical pain
Cervical Radiculopathy (soft-tissue component only)
Spinal Osteoarthritis (facet arthropathy)
Post-surgical Spine Pain (scar tissue/muscle pain)

Reasons for lower response:

Deep structural pathology within discs or nerve roots
Mechanical spinal instability
Advanced degenerative disease

Why Our Shockwave Therapy Is Different

Many clinics advertise shockwave therapy, but the technology and energy levels vary significantly. At Restore Spine & Joint Center:

Treatments are directed by a physician
Medical-grade Storz shockwave systems are used
Both Focused and Radial technologies are available
Treatment protocols are customized for each patient

This approach allows precise treatment of chronic orthopedic and sports injuries.

What to Expect During Treatment

Shockwave therapy sessions typically take 10–20 minutes per treatment area. During treatment, a handheld device delivers controlled acoustic energy to the injured tissue. Patients typically experience:

A tapping or pulsing sensation
Mild temporary discomfort
Gradual improvement over several weeks

Most patients return to normal activities immediately after treatment.

Typical Treatment Plan

Most patients receive:

3–5 treatment sessions
Sessions spaced about one week apart

Because shockwave therapy stimulates biological healing, improvement often continues for several weeks after the final treatment.

Shockwave Therapy vs PRP vs Stem Cell Therapy

Shockwave Therapy

Best for chronic tendon pain and sports injuries.
Uses acoustic energy waves to stimulate tissue healing.

PRP Therapy

Best for tendon and ligament injuries.
Uses platelet-rich plasma from the patient’s blood to stimulate repair.

Stem Cell Therapy

Best for moderate to severe joint degeneration. Uses regenerative cells to support tissue repair.

During the consultation, we determine which treatment is most appropriate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shockwave therapy painful?

Most patients tolerate treatment well. Intensity can be adjusted for comfort.

Is there downtime?

No. Patients usually return to normal daily activities immediately.

How quickly will I see results?

Some patients notice improvement after 2–3 sessions, with continued improvement over several weeks.

Is shockwave therapy covered by insurance?

Shockwave therapy is currently not covered by most insurance plans for musculoskeletal conditions. Many patients choose this treatment because it is a non-surgical option that may help reduce pain and improve function.