Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, often shortened to ESWT, is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic pressure waves to target areas of chronic pain, particularly in tendons and connective tissue that haven’t responded to rest, stretching, or other conservative care.
How Shockwave Therapy Works
During treatment, a handheld device delivers acoustic waves through the skin to the targeted area. These pressure waves are thought to stimulate local blood flow and trigger the body’s natural repair response in tissue that has become chronically irritated or degenerated. ESWT is most established for conditions like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, where studies suggest it can help reduce pain over the course of a treatment series.
It typically takes more than one session to see meaningful change. Most treatment plans involve a series of sessions spaced about a week apart, and results tend to build gradually rather than appear after a single visit.
What Conditions It’s Used For
In our Brooklyn practice, shockwave therapy is most commonly used for plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, tennis and golfer’s elbow, and other chronic tendon injuries. It’s generally considered for patients who have already tried rest, stretching, and physical therapy without enough improvement, and who want to explore a non-surgical option before considering more invasive treatments.
What a Session Feels Like
Shockwave therapy can feel like a series of firm taps or pulses over the treatment area, and some patients notice mild soreness for a day or two afterward, similar to how a deep tissue massage can feel the next day. Sessions are generally well tolerated, and serious side effects are uncommon, but it’s not comfortable for everyone, and your provider will adjust intensity based on what you can tolerate.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
ESWT isn’t appropriate for every type of pain, and it’s not a fit for certain medical conditions, so a proper evaluation matters before starting. Individual results vary, and shockwave therapy is not guaranteed to eliminate pain.
If chronic tendon or heel pain has been slowing you down, our Brooklyn team at Pain Therapy Care can help you figure out whether shockwave therapy fits your treatment plan.
