Shockwave Treatment

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy acoustic waves to targeted tissue areas to stimulate the body’s natural healing mechanisms. At Alpha Sports Performance Medicine, we use StemWave® technology — one of the most advanced extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) devices available.

StemWave® works by activating dormant stem cells and signaling pathways that promote tissue regeneration. This makes it particularly effective for chronic injuries that have failed to respond to conventional treatment — conditions where the body’s normal healing cycle has stalled.

How StemWave® Works

StemWave® applies controlled acoustic pressure waves to the treatment area. These waves:

• Stimulate angiogenesis — promoting new blood vessel formation in ischemic tissue
• Activate stem cells — recruiting the body’s own regenerative cells to the injury site
• Break down calcifications — dissolving calcium deposits in tendons and soft tissue
• Reduce pain signaling — decreasing substance P (a key pain neurotransmitter) in treated areas
• Trigger collagen synthesis — promoting new connective tissue formation for stronger repairs

What to Expect

Each session is brief — typically 5–10 minutes of direct treatment time per area. You may feel a pulsing sensation and mild discomfort during the session, particularly over sensitive tissue. Post-treatment soreness is common for 24–48 hours and is part of the healing response.

Most conditions require 3–6 sessions spaced 5–7 days apart. Many patients notice improvement after the second or third session.

Who Benefits

Shockwave therapy is particularly effective for:

• Plantar fasciitis (especially chronic heel pain lasting > 3 months)
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis
• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
• Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
• Hip flexor and greater trochanteric pain syndrome
• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)

Video: StemWave Shockwave at Alpha Sports

Frequently Asked Questions

How is shockwave therapy different from ultrasound therapy?

Therapeutic ultrasound delivers low-energy sound waves used primarily for deep heating. Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy acoustic pulses designed to trigger biological healing responses. StemWave® operates at significantly higher energy levels than therapeutic ultrasound and produces fundamentally different tissue effects.

Does shockwave therapy hurt?

Patients typically experience a pulsing sensation and moderate intensity discomfort during treatment, particularly over highly sensitive areas. The discomfort is well-tolerated by most athletes and typically lasts only during the treatment itself. Post-treatment soreness is part of the therapeutic response.

How many sessions will I need?

Most conditions require 3–6 sessions. Chronic or complex presentations may require additional treatment. We’ll assess your response after the first 3 sessions and adjust accordingly.

When will I notice results?

Some patients experience immediate pain relief following the first session. More typically, improvement begins after the 2nd or 3rd session as the healing cascade progresses. Continued improvement often occurs for 4–8 weeks after completing the treatment series.

Is shockwave therapy FDA cleared?

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy has FDA clearance for specific musculoskeletal conditions. StemWave® is an FDA-registered Class II medical device.

Are there conditions where shockwave cannot be used?

Contraindications include active infection in the treatment area, blood clotting disorders, open wounds, bone tumors, and use over growth plates in children. Pregnancy is also a contraindication for treatment over the lower back or abdomen. We review your health history before every treatment.