Shockwave Therapy
A non-surgical option for tendon and joint pain that has not responded to anything else. Offered at our Altoona office, a few minutes from Eau Claire.
What shockwave therapy does
A non-surgical option for tendon and joint pain that has not responded to anything else.
Shockwave therapy sends short acoustic pulses through the skin into a sore tendon, muscle, or joint. The pulses increase blood flow and restart the body's own repair process in tissue that has been stuck in a slow, painful loop. It works on what is keeping the tissue from healing instead of covering up the pain.
What it does in the tissue
- Brings more blood flow to the area
- Restarts the healing response in tissue that has stalled
- Helps the tissue repair and remodel instead of scarring down
- Turns down chronic pain and sensitivity
- Improves how the area moves and works
Unlike a treatment that quiets the pain for a while, the point is to change what is going on in the tissue.
What a session feels like
There are no needles, no medication, and no downtime. A session takes about 15 to 30 minutes. Most people describe it as a fast tapping with some pressure that is uncomfortable for a few minutes and then eases. The intensity is adjusted to you, and you walk out and go on with your day.
The unit we use
We use a radial shockwave unit, the Mark III from Shockwave Centers of America. Radial pulses are strongest near the surface, which suits the tendons and soft tissue listed here.
Good for
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Achilles tendon pain
- Tennis and golfer's elbow
- Patellar tendon pain
- Rotator cuff and shoulder tendon problems
- Chronic knee, hip, and shoulder pain
- Foot and ankle pain
- Muscle knots and trigger points
How it works here
Consultation and exam
We talk through the problem, check the area, and decide whether shockwave is the right tool or whether something else should come first.
Sessions
Usually three to six, a week or two apart. Gel goes on, the handpiece moves over the sore spot, and a few minutes of pulses do the work. Each visit is short, and you go right back to your day.
Recovery and follow-up
Healing keeps going between visits. Most people judge results at six to twelve weeks, and we check in along the way.
It tends to be most useful when pain has gone on for months, or when the usual treatments have not moved it. The consultation is where we figure out whether it makes sense for yours, or whether something else should come first.
Cost and insurance
Shockwave is priced like our other services, and we go over the cost before you start. Some insurance plans cover it and some do not, so bring your card and we will check your benefits first. If your plan does not cover it, there is a discounted direct-pay rate.
The short version
- Priced the same as our other services
- Some plans cover it; we check your benefits before you start
- A discounted direct-pay rate if yours does not
- Cash, cards, HSA and FSA funds, and checks all work
Is it right for me?
Shockwave is not for everyone. We skip it during pregnancy, over an active infection or a tumor, near a pacemaker, over open growth plates in kids, and for a few weeks after a cortisone shot in the same spot. If you take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, tell us first.
Some soreness, redness, or bruising for a day or two afterward is normal. No single treatment works for everyone, and we will tell you plainly if we think something else is a better fit.
Questions people ask
A bit, for a few minutes. It feels like fast tapping with some pressure. The intensity is adjusted to you, most people do not need any numbing, and it eases as the session goes.
Usually three to six, a week or two apart. We decide together after the first one or two.
Give it six to twelve weeks. Some people feel looser right after a session, but that is a nerve response. The change in the tissue takes longer, and it keeps going between visits.
Some plans cover it and some do not. We check your benefits before you start, and there is a discounted direct-pay rate if yours does not.
Usually yes, with a little care for a couple of days. Skip ice and anti-inflammatories right after a session, since the point is to let the body's own response do its work.
A shot calms inflammation for a while. Shockwave is meant to restart healing in the tissue. No needle, no medication, and nothing is injected.
Ready when you are
A free consultation is a conversation, not a commitment.