Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Tendon & Soft-Tissue Pain
Non-invasive, research-backed treatment that triggers your body's own healing response — without drugs, injections, or surgery.
Swiss-engineered by STORZ Medical — the world's most clinically studied shockwave platform, trusted since 1987.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
- A non-invasive treatment that delivers acoustic pressure waves deep into damaged tissue — restarting stalled healing in chronic injuries
- Clinically proven for conditions that haven't responded to rest, physical therapy, or cortisone injections
- Also known as EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology) — sessions take 10–15 minutes with zero downtime
See How It Works
Watch how acoustic pressure waves stimulate healing at the cellular level.
STORZ Medical — Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
What Happens Inside Your Body During Treatment
The device generates controlled acoustic waves that penetrate up to 60mm into the injured area. Each pulse triggers a cascade of biological responses:
1
New Blood Vessels Form
Shockwaves stimulate the growth of new capillaries, increasing blood flow to oxygen-starved tissue
2
Collagen Rebuilds
Damaged, disorganized fibers are replaced with healthy, structured collagen — the building block of tendons and ligaments
3
Stem Cells Activate
Mechanical energy converts into cellular signals that recruit the body's own stem cells and growth factors
4
Pain Signals Quiet Down
The waves disrupt chronic pain pathways, providing both immediate and lasting relief
The result: your body heals the injury itself — without drugs, incisions, or downtime.
What Shockwave Therapy Can Do
Accelerate Healing
Reduce Inflammation
Dissolve Calcifications
Relieve Chronic Pain
Restore Mobility
Stimulate Blood Flow
Promote Collagen
Zero Downtime
Conditions We Treat
Shockwave is most effective for chronic injuries where the body's healing response has stalled.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain unresponsive to orthotics, stretching, or injections
Tennis Elbow
Persistent outer elbow pain from overuse (lateral epicondylitis)
Golfer's Elbow
Inner elbow and forearm pain (medial epicondylitis)
Achilles Tendinopathy
Chronic Achilles pain and stiffness, insertional or midportion
Rotator Cuff Tendinopathy
Shoulder pain from tendon degeneration or calcific deposits
Calcific Tendinitis
Calcium buildup in tendons — particularly the shoulder
Patellar Tendinopathy
Chronic knee pain below the kneecap (jumper's knee)
Myofascial Trigger Points
Deep muscle knots causing referred pain patterns
Shin Splints
Chronic shin pain in runners (medial tibial stress syndrome)
Greater Trochanteric Pain
Hip bursitis and lateral hip pain
Tired of Living with Chronic Pain?
Most patients feel improvement within 3–5 sessions. No drugs, no surgery, no downtime.
Backed by Clinical Research
Shockwave therapy is one of the most studied non-invasive treatments in orthopedic medicine.
Proven
effective for chronic plantar fasciitis
Multicenter RCT — Gollwitzer et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2015
Superior
to cortisone injections for tennis elbow
Meta-analysis of RCTs — Xiong et al., Phys Sportsmed, 2019
Effective
for greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Multicenter RCT — Ramon et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2020
Proven
to accelerate skeletal muscle regeneration
Zissler et al., Am J Sports Med, 2017
3–5
sessions is a typical treatment protocol
one session per week, 10–15 minutes each
0
days of downtime required
return to normal activity immediately after treatment
Studies Referenced by STORZ Medical
Published Research
RCT
Plantar Fasciitis
Clinically relevant effectiveness of focused ESWT for chronic plantar fasciitis — multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Gollwitzer et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2015
RCT
Greater Trochanteric Pain
Focused shockwave for greater trochanteric pain syndrome — multicenter randomized controlled clinical trial.
Ramon et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2020
Meta
Tennis Elbow
Shockwave vs. corticosteroid injection for lateral epicondylitis — meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Xiong et al., Phys Sportsmed, 2019
RCT
Achilles Tendinopathy
EPAT sound wave therapy for Achilles tendinopathy — prospective study.
Saxena et al., J Foot Ankle Surg, 2011
Review
Musculoskeletal Disorders
The role of extracorporeal shockwave treatment in musculoskeletal disorders — comprehensive review.
Moya et al., J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2018
RCT
Calcific Shoulder Tendinitis
ESWT for supraspinatus calcifying tendinitis — randomized clinical trial comparing energy levels.
Ioppolo et al., Phys Ther, 2012
All studies cited are directly referenced on the STORZ Medical Literature ESWT page. Results vary by individual.
Why the Device Matters
We use the STORZ Medical D-ACTOR 100 — Swiss-engineered by the world leader in evidence-based shockwave technology since 1987.
Adjustable pressure from 0.3 to 5.0 bar, a frequency range of 1–21 Hz, and interchangeable transmitters for treatment depths up to 60mm. Every session is precision-tuned to your condition and tolerance.
The D-ACTOR Ultra (FALCON) handpiece provides real-time treatment monitoring via its integrated display — so Dr. Madalian can adjust parameters on the fly for optimal results.
As part of the KARL STORZ medical technology family — the same standard trusted in operating rooms worldwide — this is a device built for clinicians who take outcomes seriously.
Considering Surgery? Try Shockwave First.
Many patients who were told they needed surgery or injections have found lasting relief with shockwave therapy.
What a Session Looks Like
Treatments are simple and fast — most visits take 15–20 minutes total.
1
Evaluation
Dr. Madalian identifies the treatment area through palpation and clinical assessment
2
Gel Application
Ultrasound gel is applied to ensure efficient energy transfer into the tissue
3
Treatment
The handpiece delivers 2,000–3,000 pulses over 10–15 minutes — pressure and frequency adjusted to your tolerance
4
Walk Out
No bandages, no restrictions — resume normal activity immediately
Most patients describe the sensation as a rapid tapping or pulsing. Some tenderness over the treatment area is normal and indicates the healing response has been activated.
A typical protocol is 3–5 sessions spaced one week apart. Many patients notice improvement after 2–3 sessions.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
Good Fit
- •You have a chronic tendon condition that hasn't improved with rest or physical therapy
- •You've been told you need surgery for a tendon or soft-tissue problem
- •You want a drug-free, non-invasive alternative to cortisone injections
- •You have calcific tendinitis or calcium deposits in a tendon
- •You're an athlete dealing with a stubborn overuse injury
May Need a Different Approach
- •Pregnancy — not recommended
- •Blood clotting disorders or patients on anticoagulant therapy
- •Treatment directly over open wounds, tumors, or infections
- •Treatment near growth plates in children
- •Any condition where your clinician has advised against shockwave exposure
This is general information, not medical advice. Dr. Madalian will evaluate your specific situation to determine the best treatment approach.
Frequently Asked Questions
Find Out If Shockwave Is Right for You
Most patients feel improvement within the first few sessions. No drugs, no surgery, no downtime.