Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy delivers focused acoustic energy directly into damaged soft tissue (tendons, muscle attachments, and trigger points) stimulating the body’s own repair process. If you’ve been dealing with heel pain that won’t go away, a shoulder or elbow that hasn’t responded to rest and stretching, or chronic muscle tightness that keeps coming back, shockwave gives those tissues a signal they haven’t been getting on their own.

At Hanson Chiropractic, shockwave is one of the tools we use as part of a coordinated care plan. It’s often included with chiropractic adjustments and massage therapy, where each approach addresses a different layer of the problem. Individual results vary, and we’ll discuss realistic expectations with you at your evaluation.

Conditions Shockwave Therapy Treats

• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow (lateral and medial epicondylitis)
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy and shoulder pain
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
• Hip bursitis and greater trochanteric pain
• Calcific tendinitis
• Chronic myofascial trigger points and muscle pain
• Neck and back pain, often used alongside chiropractic care

How It Works

A handheld applicator delivers rapid acoustic pulses to the treatment area. Those pulses create a microtrauma response in the tissue. This increases blood flow, breaks down calcified deposits, and activates the cellular repair mechanisms that chronic injuries suppress over time. Tendons and connective tissue that have been in a stalled healing state respond to this mechanical stimulus by resuming the repair process.

Sessions typically take 5 to 15 minutes depending on the area being treated. The applicator is moved methodically across the treatment zone, with intensity adjusted to your tolerance. Most patients notice reduced pain and improved mobility in the days following a session, with cumulative improvement across a course of treatment.

Better Together:  Shockwave, Adjustments, and Massage

Tendon and soft tissue injuries rarely exist in isolation. A heel that’s been compensated for months creates hip and lumbar patterns that need to be addressed. A shoulder injury changes how the cervical spine and upper thoracic move. Treating only the painful site often produces partial improvement because the surrounding dysfunction keeps loading the tissue the same way.

Combining shockwave with chiropractic adjustments addresses joint mobility and nerve function that affect how muscles load and recover. Adding massage reduces the superficial tension that contributes to poor movement mechanics. The three work at different depths and through different mechanisms. This is why using them together, when clinically appropriate, produces more complete outcomes than any one of them alone. We’ll tell you at your evaluation which combination makes sense for your situation.

What to Expect

Most patients start with 3 to 6 sessions spaced a week apart. Chronic conditions that have been present for months or years typically need more sessions than recent injuries. Some patients notice improvement after the first session. Others see gradual change across the first several visits. A temporary increase in soreness at the treatment site in the 24 to 48 hours after a session is normal and expected — it reflects the tissue responding to the stimulus.

We’ll evaluate your response after the first few sessions and adjust the plan if needed. If shockwave isn’t producing a response for your specific condition, we’ll tell you so directly rather than continuing treatment that isn’t working.

Common Questions

Is shockwave therapy painful?

Most patients describe it as firm pressure or tapping at the treatment site. Areas with active tendon pain are more sensitive during treatment. Intensity is adjusted to your tolerance throughout the session. Any discomfort during treatment is typically mild and brief.

How soon will I notice results?

Many patients notice reduced pain within 24 to 48 hours after a session. Others see gradual improvement across a course of treatment. Results depend on the condition, how long it has been present, and the overall care plan. Individual results vary.

Is shockwave covered by insurance?

Coverage for shockwave therapy varies by plan and carrier. We recommend contacting your insurance provider directly before your first visit. We’re happy to help you understand your options. Call us at (405) 341-0494.

Who is not a good candidate for shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is not appropriate over areas with active infection, open wounds, bone tumors, or blood clotting disorders. It is also not used over areas of active growth plates in children, or over pacemakers. Pregnancy is a contraindication for treatment over the abdomen or lower back. Your evaluation will include a review of whether shockwave is appropriate for your specific situation.