How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

How does shockwave therapy work?

Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy acoustic waves into damaged tissue using a handheld applicator placed against the skin. These mechanical pressure waves travel through the skin into the tendon, muscle, or joint, triggering biological healing responses that the body cannot initiate on its own in chronic conditions.

What happens inside the tissue during treatment?

• Cavitation: Microscopic bubbles form and collapse, creating controlled micro-trauma that stimulates the body’s repair response
• Neovascularization: New blood vessels form in the treatment area, delivering oxygen and nutrients for healing
• Collagen synthesis: Fibroblasts are activated to produce new collagen — the structural protein of healthy tendons
• Calcification breakdown: Acoustic waves break apart calcium deposits in chronically inflamed tendons

What conditions does shockwave treat?

Plantar fasciitis, calcific tendinitis, tennis elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, patellar tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendinopathy, and chronic muscle and joint pain.

When will I feel results?

Many patients feel improvement after the first or second session. Full benefit continues developing over 6–12 weeks as new tissue forms.