Focused Shockwave Therapy

Some musculoskeletal problems persist because the normal healing process has slowed or the involved tissue has not fully recovered. Focused Shockwave Therapy uses precisely targeted acoustic energy to stimulate biological processes associated with circulation, tissue remodeling, and repair.

We commonly use Focused Shockwave Therapy for plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer’s elbow, chronic tendon injuries, calcific tendinopathy, and certain knee conditions, including some cases of osteoarthritis. It is non-invasive, requires no injections or medications, and treatment sessions typically take only a few minutes.

Focused Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain and Injury Recovery

Are you dealing with chronic pain, a stubborn tendon problem, or an injury that hasn’t responded the way you hoped? Focused Shockwave Therapy is an advanced, non-invasive treatment that uses targeted acoustic energy to stimulate biological processes associated with circulation, tissue remodeling, and repair.

For appropriately selected patients, it may help reduce pain, improve function, and support recovery without medication, injections, or surgery.

What is Focused Shockwave Therapy?

Focused Shockwave Therapy uses precisely targeted acoustic waves to deliver energy deep into injured or painful tissue. This mechanical stimulation can increase local circulation, stimulate cellular activity, and encourage the body’s natural repair processes.

Focused Shockwave Therapy is commonly used for stubborn musculoskeletal conditions, particularly problems involving tendons and other soft tissues that haven’t responded well to more traditional approaches.

Conditions commonly treated include:

  • Chronic tendinopathy of the shoulder, elbow, knee, and Achilles tendon
  • Plantar fasciitis and chronic heel pain
  • Muscle and ligament injuries
  • Joint pain and stiffness
  • Calcific tendinopathy
  • Other chronic or slow-healing musculoskeletal injuries

Why Focused Shockwave Therapy?

Non-Invasive and Drug-Free

There are no injections, medications, or surgical procedures involved. Treatment is performed right here in the office and requires little to no downtime.

Designed to Stimulate Healing

Rather than simply numbing an area or temporarily suppressing symptoms, shockwave therapy is intended to stimulate biological processes involved in tissue repair and recovery.

Precise and Targeted

Focused Shockwave Therapy allows energy to be directed to a specific depth and treatment area, making it particularly useful for deeper or more localized musculoskeletal conditions.

A Short Course of Care

Treatment protocols vary depending on the condition, but many patients are treated over a relatively small number of sessions (typically 6 sessions, but sometimes as little as 3) rather than requiring ongoing treatment indefinitely.

What to Expect

Treatment sessions are relatively quick and performed in-office. The applicator is positioned over the injured area and acoustic pulses are delivered directly into the targeted tissue.

You may feel a deep pulsing or tapping sensation during treatment. Sensitive or injured areas can be uncomfortable when treated, but the intensity can be adjusted and most patients tolerate treatment well.

Improvement doesn’t necessarily happen overnight. Shockwave therapy is designed to stimulate a healing response, so changes can continue to occur in the days and weeks following treatment.

Is Focused Shockwave Therapy Right for You?

Focused Shockwave Therapy may be worth considering if you’ve been dealing with a stubborn injury, chronic tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, or another musculoskeletal problem that hasn’t improved as expected with rest, exercise, medication, injections, or other conservative treatments.

The first step is determining what’s actually causing the problem and whether Focused Shockwave Therapy is appropriate for your condition.

Schedule a Focused Shockwave Consultation

Want to Learn More About the Technology?

Our Focused Shockwave system is manufactured by STORZ Medical, a pioneer and world leader in shockwave therapy and the inventor of the patented electromagnetic cylindrical shockwave source used in STORZ focused shockwave systems. Unlike electrohydraulic systems that generate shockwaves through an electrical spark, STORZ’s electromagnetic technology generates focused shockwaves using an electromagnetic source, allowing for fast, precise, and consistent energy delivery with significantly less noise.

You can learn more about the physics and technology behind shockwave therapy directly from Storz Medical.

A note about “Shockwave” Therapy: Not every device advertised as shockwave therapy produces the same type of acoustic wave. Focused Shockwave Therapy and Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (sometimes called Radial Shockwave) are different technologies. 603 Chiropractic uses true Focused Shockwave Therapy. See the comparison below to learn why that distinction matters.

What About Cortisone Injections?

Cortisone injections and Focused Shockwave Therapy are different tools that may be appropriate in different situations.

Cortisone injections are commonly used to reduce inflammation and may provide short-term pain relief. Depending on the condition, location, and frequency of use, repeated injections may also carry risks, including weakening of tendons, ligaments, or other tissues. These benefits and risks should be discussed with the medical provider recommending the injection.

Focused Shockwave Therapy takes a different approach. It uses targeted acoustic energy to stimulate biological processes associated with circulation, tissue remodeling, and repair. It does not involve medication, injections, or surgery, and it typically requires little to no downtime.

Results vary depending on the condition, its severity, how long it has been present, and other individual factors. Some patients notice progressive improvement during or after a series of treatments, while others may need a different approach.

Which Option Is Right for You?

That depends on the diagnosis, your health history, your goals, and what treatments you have already tried. Focused Shockwave Therapy may be worth considering for certain chronic tendon problems, plantar fasciitis, calcific tendinopathy, and other stubborn musculoskeletal conditions.

The first step is an evaluation to determine what may be causing the problem and whether Focused Shockwave Therapy is appropriate for you.

Schedule a consultation to learn more.

Click Here to Book Your Focused Shockwave Initial Consult 

What’s The Difference?

Radial Pressure Wave vs. Focused Shockwave Therapy

If you’ve researched shockwave therapy, you’ve probably seen the term used to describe several different types of devices.

Two of the most common are Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPW) and Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSW).

Although they’re often marketed under the same “shockwave” umbrella, they generate and deliver energy differently.

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy

Radial Pressure Wave devices typically use compressed air to accelerate a projectile inside the handpiece. When it strikes the applicator, mechanical pressure waves spread outward into the tissue.

Because the energy disperses from the surface, radial therapy is particularly useful for larger and more superficial treatment areas.

Common uses include:

  • Muscle tightness and trigger points
  • Superficial tendon and soft-tissue complaints
  • Larger treatment areas
  • General musculoskeletal pain

What does it feel like?

A rapid tapping or vibrating sensation at the surface.

Focused Shockwave Therapy

Focused Shockwave Therapy generates true shockwaves that can be concentrated at a specific location and depth within the body.

Rather than dispersing most of the energy near the surface, focused shockwaves allow the clinician to target deeper and more specific structures while controlling the depth and intensity of treatment.

Common uses include:

  • Chronic tendinopathy
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Calcific tendinopathy
  • Deep or localized soft-tissue injuries
  • Certain delayed or non-healing bone injuries

What does it feel like?

A deeper, more concentrated pulse over the targeted area.

Why We Use Focused Shockwave at 603 Chiropractic

Radial Pressure Wave Therapy can be useful, and there are situations where it makes sense. But it isn’t the same technology as Focused Shockwave Therapy.

At 603 Chiropractic, we chose Focused Shockwave because of its ability to precisely target both superficial and deeper structures and deliver therapeutic energy to a controlled depth.

If you’re comparing “shockwave” providers, it’s worth asking one simple question:

Is the device radial pressure wave, or true focused shockwave?

That distinction matters.

Ready to get started? You can book an appointment here.

Class 4 Laser Therapy vs. Focused Shockwave Therapy

Class 4 Laser Therapy and Focused Shockwave Therapy are both non-invasive technologies used for musculoskeletal pain and injury recovery, but they work through very different mechanisms.

Class 4 Laser Therapy

Class 4 Laser Therapy uses light energy delivered into the tissue. This process, often referred to as photobiomodulation, is intended to influence cellular activity, circulation, inflammation, and tissue recovery.

Laser treatment is typically comfortable and produces a warm sensation over the treated area.

Common uses include:

  • Pain and inflammation
  • Muscle and soft-tissue injuries
  • Joint pain
  • Supporting tissue recovery

Focused Shockwave Therapy

Focused Shockwave Therapy uses acoustic energy rather than light.

The mechanical energy produced by the shockwave interacts directly with the targeted tissue and can stimulate biological responses associated with circulation, tissue remodeling, and repair.

This makes Focused Shockwave particularly useful for many chronic tendon problems and stubborn musculoskeletal conditions.

Common uses include:

  • Chronic tendinopathy
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Calcific tendinopathy
  • Scarred or chronically irritated tissue
  • Deep, localized musculoskeletal conditions

Which One Is Better?

It depends on the condition.

Laser and Focused Shockwave aren’t simply weaker and stronger versions of the same treatment—they work differently and may be appropriate for different problems.

At 603 Chiropractic, we use Focused Shockwave Therapy because it gives us the ability to deliver mechanical energy precisely into the tissue we’re trying to treat, including structures located well below the surface.

For patients dealing with chronic tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, calcification, or an injury that simply hasn’t responded to other approaches, it can be an excellent non-invasive option.

Find Out if Focused Shockwave Therapy Is Right for You

If you’ve been dealing with a stubborn injury or chronic pain and aren’t sure what to try next, we’ll evaluate the problem and determine whether Focused Shockwave Therapy makes sense for you. You can book an appointment here.