Shockwave therapy — which is also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy — is administered to a tendon or muscle through the skin with a small, handheld device that’s similar to an ultrasound wand.

Shockwave therapy works by emitting high energy pulses. These pulses of acoustic energy are focused on the target tissues by the handpiece / applicator of the shockwave therapy machine and are believed to cause localized microtrauma that stimulates the body's natural healing processes. The shock waves are believed to stimulate angiogenesis / neovascularization (new blood vessels) and neurogenesis (new nerve cells). The microtrauma increases local circulation and enhances breakdown of calcifications (calcium build-up).

Orthopedic conditions commonly treated with Shockwave include:​

• Plantar fasciitis

• Jumper’s knee (patellar tendinitis)

• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)

• Golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis)

• Achilles tendinitis

• Bursitis

• Rotator cuff pain

• Chronic pain

• Stress fractures (bone healing)

• Morton’s Neuroma