Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that delivers focused acoustic pressure waves into injured tissue. It is most valuable for the stubborn cases: the tendon problems and chronic soft tissue injuries that have settled into a holding pattern and stopped improving with rest, ice and time alone. At our Dearborn practice, we use it to restart the healing process in exactly those situations.

The treatment works by creating controlled microtrauma in tissue that has become chronically inflamed or scarred. That stimulus increases blood flow to the area, encourages new blood vessel formation, and prompts the body to resume the repair process it had abandoned. In effect, it converts a stalled chronic injury back into an active healing one.

A session is brief. A handpiece is applied to the skin over the injured area with a layer of gel, and pulses are delivered for roughly five to ten minutes depending on the site. Most patients describe a firm tapping sensation that can be uncomfortable over a tender spot but is generally well tolerated, and the intensity is adjusted to what you can comfortably handle. No anesthetic is needed and you can drive yourself home afterwards.

Shockwave therapy is commonly used for plantar fasciitis and chronic heel pain, tennis and golfer’s elbow, Achilles and patellar tendon problems, shoulder tendinopathy, and areas of persistent muscle tightness that have not released with hands-on treatment. Because it targets the tissue rather than masking symptoms, it pairs well with the adjustments and therapeutic exercises we provide alongside it.

Most patients are scheduled for a short course of sessions spaced about a week apart, and improvement typically builds over the weeks following treatment rather than appearing immediately. Some mild soreness in the treated area for a day or two afterwards is normal and is part of how the therapy works.

If you have an injury that has not improved despite months of rest and other treatment, shockwave therapy may be worth discussing. Contact our office to find out whether your condition is a good candidate.