Shockwave Therapy — Used the Right Way
Short, high-energy mechanical pulses to stimulate healing in stubborn tendon and fascia pain — always paired with the right loading plan.
How we decide if shockwave is appropriate
Shockwave isn’t prescribed by default. We first assess movement, strength, and load tolerance. If shockwave adds value, we integrate it at the right time — not too early, not too late — to support tissue adaptation and recovery.
When Shockwave Makes Sense
Best for:
- Pain that hasn’t responded to rest or basic rehab
- Tendon or fascia pain lasting 3+ months
- Localized pain aggravated by loading
- People willing to follow a loading plan
Not ideal if:
- You’re unable to tolerate progressive loading
- You’re looking for a passive, one-session fix
- There’s significant nerve involvement
- Pain is acute and inflammatory
What it helps with
Shockwave works best when combined with MVMT
Shockwave therapy reduces pain and stimulates tissue healing — but long-term results come from restoring load tolerance.
At MVMT Kinetic, shockwave is always paired with targeted exercise and MVMT retraining to ensure results last beyond symptom relief.
Book a Shockwave Assessment
We’ll assess whether shockwave fits your condition — and build a plan around it.
What to expect?
Typical timeline
• Assessment 1hr / Follow-up 30min
• Most people need 3–5 sessions
• Usually spaced 1–2 weeks apart
• Symptom ease after 1 session
Assess & Confirm
Before shockwave begins, we confirm that your pain is coming from a tendon or fascia issue that’s appropriate for treatment. We assess movement, loading tolerance, and symptom behavior to ensure shockwave is being used for the right reason and at the right time.
Load & Move
Shockwave works best when paired with movement. You’ll be given simple, targeted loading or mobility work to guide tissue adaptation between sessions. This step is critical — it’s how results last beyond pain relief.
Targeted Shockwave Treatment
Shockwave delivers short, controlled mechanical pulses to the affected tissue. Treatment typically lasts 5–10 minutes per area and is adjusted to your tolerance. You may feel discomfort, but it should remain manageable and brief.
Reassess & Progress
We reassess symptoms, function, and tolerance over a short series of sessions (commonly 3–5 sessions, spaced 1–2 weeks apart). If progress stalls, the plan changes — shockwave is adjusted, paused, or discontinued as needed.
Shockwave therapy is most effective for chronic tendon and fascia-related pain, especially when symptoms have plateaued with rest, exercise alone, or other conservative care.
Conditions It Can Help
Foot & Ankle
Plantar fasciitis / plantar heel pain
Chronic heel pain
Mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy
Insertional Achilles tendinopathy (case-dependent)
Peroneal tendinopathy
Posterior tibial tendinopathy
Knee
Patellar tendinopathy (“jumper’s knee”)
Quadriceps tendinopathy
Chronic anterior knee pain related to tendon overload
Hip & Pelvis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (gluteal tendinopathy)
Lateral hip pain
Proximal hamstring tendinopathy
Adductor tendinopathy
Shoulder
Calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy
Non-calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy
Chronic shoulder tendinopathy resistant to exercise alone
Elbow
Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
Medial epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
Other Tendon & Fascia Conditions
Chronic tendinopathies that have plateaued with rehab
Post-surgical or post-injury tendon pain (when appropriate)
Persistent soft-tissue pain where tissue loading tolerance is limited
Shockwave therapy is supported by clinical research for chronic tendon and fascia conditions when used alongside progressive loading.
FAQ
What to Know Before Starting Shockwave
1. What happens if shockwave doesn’t help my pain?
If shockwave doesn’t produce meaningful change within the first few sessions, we stop using it. We don’t continue treatments that aren’t moving the needle. <p>
That’s why shockwave at MVMT Kinetic is always paired with reassessment and a loading strategy — so we can pivot early if your body needs a different approach.
2. Why can’t I just keep doing exercises or manual therapy instead?
For many people, exercise and hands-on care are enough. <p>
Shockwave is considered when tissue has stopped adapting — often after weeks or months of rehab where pain plateaus despite doing the “right things.” <p>
In those cases, shockwave can help restart the healing response, so exercise and movement start working again.
3. Is shockwave safe — and is it backed by evidence?
Yes. Shockwave therapy is supported by clinical research for specific chronic tendon and fascia conditions, particularly when combined with progressive loading. <p>
That said, it’s not appropriate for everyone — which is why we assess movement, tissue tolerance, and training load before recommending it. <p>
If shockwave isn’t a good fit, we’ll tell you. <p>