Shockwave

Acoustic pressure waves delivered through the skin to prompt a localized repair response. What a course involves, and what separates a considered provider from a device operator.

Researched and edited by Rob MartinezNot medically reviewed. No clinician has reviewed this page. Why that mattersLast updated 2026-09-17

Regulatory and evidence status

The evidence here is comparatively stronger than for most options in this directory, but it varies sharply by condition. Ask what the research shows for yours, not for shockwave in general.

What it is

Shockwave therapy, sometimes called extracorporeal shockwave therapy or ESWT, sends acoustic pressure waves through the skin into tissue below. It is delivered without incisions or injections, usually as a short course of sessions rather than a single visit.

It is most established for stubborn tendon problems that have not responded to rest and rehabilitation. Devices differ in how they generate and focus the wave, and the way a provider sets intensity and targets the site is a real part of the outcome — which makes who operates the device worth asking about.

What providers commonly offer it for

  • Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
  • Tennis elbow and other chronic tendon problems
  • Calcific shoulder tendinopathy

What a first visit usually involves

  1. An assessment of the tendon or tissue involved, sometimes with imaging.
  2. A course planned across several sessions, typically spaced a week or so apart.
  3. Each session applies the device to the target site for a few minutes.
  4. A review point to judge whether the course is worth continuing.

Questions to ask a provider

  • Is the device focused or radial, and why is that the right choice for me?
  • How many sessions do you expect, and how will we know it is working?
  • Who operates the device, and how much experience do they have with my condition?
  • Is my specific condition among the uses this device is cleared for?

Shockwave: common questions

Is shockwave therapy FDA approved?
Some shockwave devices are FDA-cleared for specific conditions, such as plantar fasciitis. That clearance does not extend to every use a clinic may offer. Ask which device is used and whether your condition is among its cleared indications.
Is it painful?
Most people find it uncomfortable rather than painful, and intensity can usually be adjusted. Ask what to expect during a session and immediately afterward.
How is it different from an injection-based treatment?
Nothing is injected and nothing is drawn from your body. That makes the sourcing questions that complicate other regenerative options simpler here — the questions that matter instead are about the device, the settings, and who is operating it.

This page describes a treatment, not any one clinic's version of it, and it is information rather than medical advice. Read the editorial policy.