Shockwave Therapy at Savvy Physical Therapy

What Is Shockwave Therapy?  

Shockwave Therapy—also known as Radial Pressure Wave Therapy or Extracorporeal  Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)—is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy acoustic  pressure waves to stimulate healing in damaged soft tissues. These mechanical pulses activate  stalled cells, increase blood supply, shift chronic inflammation toward recovery, break up scar  tissue or calcific deposits, and reduce pain.  

Sessions are short, typically 15 minutes, and clinically effective for people who have stubborn,  long-standing pain or injuries that haven’t responded fully to rest, massage, traditional rehab  programs, or strengthening alone. Shockwave works at the cellular level, helping your body  repair tissue that has stopped healing on its own.  

Savvy Physical Therapy provides orthopedic, sports, and musculoskeletal-focused shockwave  therapy using a high-quality radial pressure wave device designed specifically for pain relief,  tendon and muscle healing, and injury recovery.  

Conditions Shockwave Therapy Helps Treat  

Shockwave is particularly effective for tendon, muscle, fascia, and chronic soft-tissue  conditions. Below is a comprehensive list organized by body region, including alternative  names.  

Foot & Ankle  

• Plantar fasciitis / plantar fasciopathy  

• Achilles tendinopathy (insertional or mid-portion)  

• Peroneal tendinopathy  

• Metatarsalgia (mid-foot pain)  

• Chronic ankle sprains or stiffness 

Lower Leg 

• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome) 

• Calf strains  

• Chronic calf tightness  

Knee  

• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) 

• Meniscus-related pain (non-acute) 

• Knee osteoarthritis  

• Chronic joint stiffness  

Hip & Thigh  

• Proximal hamstring tendinopathy 

• Gluteal tendinopathy  

• IT band pain/tightness  

• Hamstring strains  

• Hip osteoarthritis  

Shoulder  

• Rotator cuff tendinopathy  

• Subacromial pain/impingement  

• Biceps tendinopathy  

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) 

• Calcific tendinitis  

Elbow  

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylalgia) 

• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylalgia)

Wrist & Hand  

• Carpal tunnel symptoms (adjunctive)  

• Tendon overuse pain  

Spine & Pelvis  

• Neck pain from muscular tension  

• Upper trapezius trigger points  

• Low back pain with myofascial involvement  

• Piriformis syndrome  

Whole-Body / Myofascial Conditions  

• Chronic trigger points  

• Muscle tightness unresponsive to stretching  

• Post-surgical stiffness (complementary)  

• Chronic pain when other treatments have failed  

• Scar tissue adhesions  

• Recovery support for athletes  

What to Expect During Your Shockwave Therapy Sessions  

Your First Visit (55 Minutes)  

Your initial appointment includes:  

• A full body orthopedic and movement evaluation  

• Savvy Physical Therapy aims to find the root cause of your pain. Many times, pain &  tissue damage are the result of weakness or mobility dysfunction somewhere else in  your body. To get the best results from shockwave therapy, we want to make sure that it  is the best treatment for your issue and that we are considering all contributing factors. 

• Shockwave therapy treatment 

• A customized home exercise plan 

You will leave understanding your diagnosis, the tissues involved, and how to support your  healing between sessions.  

Follow-Up Visits (20 Minutes or less)  

These shorter sessions focus exclusively on the shockwave treatment. Since you will already  know your exercises, we maximize treatment time and efficiency.  

What Shockwave Therapy Feels Like  

Most people describe radial pressure shockwave therapy as a strong vibration or tapping  sensation. It may feel like:  

• Rhythmic thumping or pulsing  

• Deep targeted pressure  

• A “good hurt” similar to deep-tissue massage  

• Briefly sharper tenderness over injured or irritated areas  

The intensity is fully adjustable, and we find a level that is therapeutic without being  overwhelming. Many people who dislike needles or dry needling prefer shockwave because it is  entirely non-invasive and more comfortable. 

Aftercare Guidelines for ShockWave Therapy

Shockwave triggers a natural healing process that continues for 48–72 hours. To maximize your  results:  

Avoid Icing or Cryotherapy  

Ice reduces the inflammatory and vascular response that shockwave stimulates. Avoid icing, ice  baths, & cryochambers for 48 hours.  

Avoid Anti-Inflammatory Medications  

NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, Advil, Aleve) can interfere with tissue regeneration. Avoid for  48–72 hours. Acetaminophen is acceptable. 

Modify Activity  

Light activity is beneficial, but avoid heavy loading of the treated area for 24–48 hours. Athletes  may return to moderate training within 1–2 days depending on soreness.  

Hydrate Well  

Adequate hydration supports cellular healing.  

Continue Your Home Exercise Plan  

Your exercises reinforce the healing response, maintain mobility, and strengthen weak links.  

How Shockwave Therapy Works (The Science)  

Shockwave therapy works through several well-established biological mechanisms:  Mechanical Stimulus and Mechanotransduction  

Shockwaves (acoustic pulses) create rapid pressure changes that induce mechanotransduction— cells convert mechanical force into biochemical signals. This activates growth factors, cell  proliferation, and tissue remodeling.  

Angiogenesis (Improved Blood Supply)  

Research demonstrates increases in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and endothelial  nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), leading to new capillary formation. This improved circulation  supports tendon and muscle repair.  

Recruitment of Regenerative Cells  

Shockwave attracts mesenchymal stem cells and enhances fibroblast proliferation and  differentiation. Signaling pathways such as PI3K/Akt and eNOS contribute to improved tissue  repair and regeneration.  

Immunomodulation and Inflammation Reset  

Shockwave temporarily increases beneficial cytokines (IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, TNF-α) that recruit  healing cells, then helps regulate matrix-remodeling enzymes (MMPs). This shifts chronically  inflamed or stalled tissue back into a normal healing cycle.  

Pain Reduction 

Shockwave reduces pain by:  

• Lowering pain-related neuropeptides (e.g., Substance P)  

• Temporarily modulating sensory nerve fibers  

• Raising pain thresholds  

• Reducing local muscle hypertonicity  

These changes explain why many people experience both immediate and long-term pain relief.  Breakdown of Scar Tissue and Calcifications  

Repeated treatments can soften scar adhesions and fragment small calcific deposits, improving  mobility and facilitating healthier tissue remodeling.  

Why Clients Choose Shockwave Therapy  

• Short 15-minute sessions  

• Faster and more affordable than long-course PT care  

• Effective for chronic tendon and muscle pain  

• Non-invasive, no needles, minimal downtime  

• Ideal for people who dislike dry needling  

• Helps restart healing when progress has stalled  

• Fits easily into busy schedules  

We do not offer aesthetic, veterinary, men’s health, or bone non-union shockwave services. Our  focus is exclusively on helping active adults heal faster, move better, and return to what they  love.  

Shockwave Therapy FAQ’s