Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

What is Shockwave?

Shockwave is a non-surgical office treatment to help heal painful musculoskeletal conditions. It is also called Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) .

How does it work?

ESWT (Shockwave therapy) is a non-invasive alternative to surgery pain from many common conditions. Shockwave treatment uses pressure waves focused on the site of the pain or injury to stimulate the body’s own natural healing mechanisms, “jump-starting” the healing process. It may also help to heal damaged tissue.

What is it useful for?

Shockwave is useful for heel pain from plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, LBP, trigger finger, calves and hamstring tightness, Baker cysts, partial meniscus tears, Morton neuroma, patellar tendinitis, lateral epicondylitis, neuropathies, piriformis syndrome, shin splints, stress fractures, non union fractures, ED, cellulite, stretch marks…

Does it work?

There have been a large number of medical studies which support the use of this treatment. Over 82% of patients report less or no more pain after Shockwave treatment. It has been approved for use by the FDA.

Is it safe?

The safety of this procedure is proven. If done by a qualified provider, the procedure has virtually no risks or side effects, since there is no medication, surgery, injections, or anaesthesia administered. Complications are extremely low.

What are the benefits of Shockwave?

There are a number of benefits to Shockwave treatment. It is a non-invasive procedure—which means there is no cutting of the skin. It also requires no anaesthesia, not even any numbing medicine. This means no time out of work or down-time following the procedure. Shockwave is also relatively inexpensive, especially when compared to the cost of surgery. There is no post-treatment pain medication needed, and the treatment is fast, safe, and effective.

What is the Shockwave experience like?

Generally 3-6 treatments are performed on a weekly basis, and each one takes approximately 10-30 minutes, depending on the area treated and the amount of inflammation present. Some conditions will require only 1 tx. It can be performed in a standard treatment room and no special pre-treatment medicines or preparations are necessary. No anaesthesia is required, and most individuals tolerate the treatment well . We offer topical anaesthesia with a cream if the patient wants it.

How do I decide if Shockwave is right for me?

For most medical conditions, a plan of conservative treatment is generally done first. If this is unsuccessful, you can discuss Shockwave treatment with your doctor. Sometimes recurrent problems can be treated immediately with Shockwave therapy.

What is the cost of Shockwave?

Shockwave might not be covered by insurance. Your insurance will not be filed for the Shockwave treatment, and payment is due at the time of treatment. Shockwave costs $200 to $500 per treatment depending of the area treated. If your insurance doesn’t cover the cost, an office visit—where you will be diagnosed and the doctor will determine whether or not Shockwave is right for you—will incur a regular doctor visit fee, separate from the Shockwave fee.

Read More:

Wheeler, P. C., & Dudson, C. (2021). Similar benefits seen after radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy or autologous blood injection in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis—a retrospective cohort study. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/jsm.0000000000000930