Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Pain

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, almost 7.5 million Americans seek medical attention for a shoulder problem every year. Shoulder pain is a common health issue, affecting many adults during their lifetime. Various treatment options are available, but they may not always provide adequate relief. As a result, many patients look for alternative treatments that could help ease their pain. Emerging research suggests that shockwave therapy could be an effective option for managing shoulder pain, without the high costs or side effects associated with surgery and prescription drugs.

This blog post will cover:

• Causes of Shoulder Pain
• Benefits of Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Pain
• How Shockwave Therapy Works
• What is a Shockwave?
• How do Shockwaves Treat Neck Pain?
• Types of Shockwave Therapy
• Who is a Good Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?
• The Shockwave Therapy Procedure
• Shockwave Therapy Side Effects
• The Best Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Pain

Shoulder pain can arise due to various factors, ranging from poor posture to underlying medical conditions. Here are some of the most common causes of shoulder pain:

• Muscle or ligament strains: Overuse, incorrect movements, or sudden actions can cause strains or sprains in the shoulder’s muscles and ligaments, leading to pain.
• Rotator cuff injuries: The rotator cuff in the shoulder can get damaged or torn, causing severe shoulder pain and discomfort.
• Arthritis: This degenerative joint disease can affect the shoulder, causing pain and stiffness.
• Tendonitis: Overuse or age can cause inflammation in the tendons around the shoulder, leading to pain.
• Bursitis: Inflammation of the bursae, the small sacs of fluid that cushion the shoulder joint, can cause pain.
• Shoulder impingement: This condition occurs when the top of the shoulder blade puts pressure on the underlying soft tissues when the arm is lifted away from the body.
• Fractures: Broken bones in or around the shoulder can result in intense pain.

It’s important to note that these are just some of the most common causes of shoulder pain. If you are experiencing knee pain, you can learn if your condition is suitable for treatment and try shockwave therapy with our New Patient Special.

Shockwave therapy is a promising non-invasive treatment that can offer a variety of benefits for shoulder pain. This therapy uses high-energy shock waves to stimulate healing in the affected area. Here are some advantages of using shockwave therapy for shoulder pain:

Accelerated Healing

Shockwave therapy uses high-energy sound waves to trigger the body’s natural healing process. This can help speed up the healing of damaged tissues, including muscles and ligaments, which is particularly useful for those suffering from chronic or recurring shoulder pain.

Reduced Need for Medications

Traditional treatments for shoulder pain often involve medications that may have unwanted side effects. Shockwave therapy is a medication-free alternative that can reduce the need for pain medication or other treatments, making it an appealing choice for those preferring non-pharmaceutical treatments.

Improved Quality of Life

Shoulder pain can significantly impair quality of life, making daily activities or hobbies challenging. Shockwave therapy can help reduce pain and improve mobility, enabling patients to return to their normal activities and enhance their quality of life.

Non-Invasive and Safe

Unlike many shoulder pain treatments, shockwave therapy is non-invasive and safe. It does not require incisions or anesthesia and has a low risk of complications. This makes it a good option for those who want to avoid more invasive treatments.

Overall, shockwave therapy is a promising treatment option for those suffering from shoulder pain.

How Shockwave Therapy Works

Shockwave therapy serves as a non-invasive treatment that deploys high-energy sound waves to invigorate the body’s inherent healing mechanism. Here is a brief explanation of how this procedure functions:

What is a Shockwave?

Shockwaves, in essence, are rapid sound pulses which are comprised of a high-pressure peak succeeded by a relatively lower-pressure depression. These occurrences are integral to our everyday lives and could be generated by a variety of phenomena such as sonic booms, blasts, thunderbolts, seismic activities, or any incident causing a shift in air pressure.

How do Shockwaves Treat Neck Pain?

A specially designed device is employed to create and securely administer shockwaves to the affected shoulder region. These shockwaves possess the capacity to foster cellular-level healing, enhance blood circulation, and stimulate the body’s intrinsic healing process.

Types of Shockwave Therapy

There are numerous forms of shockwave therapy, but the most frequently employed are radial shockwave therapy (RSWT), focused shockwave therapy (FSWT), and acoustic wave therapy (AWT). Unfocused Shockwave Therapy is also a notable technique for treating neck pain.

Radial Shockwave Therapy utilizes a manual device to deliver pressure waves to the skin’s surface. It is a prevalent method for addressing conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and tennis elbow. Nevertheless, for deeper tissue injuries, its effectiveness might be restricted, and patients may require multiple sessions for the best outcomes.

Focused Shockwave Therapy makes use of a device that directs high-intensity shockwaves straight to the afflicted area. This therapy is commonly deployed to handle chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis and slow-healing bone fractures. However, some patients may find this therapy slightly uncomfortable, and the treatment’s intensity may need to be adjusted according to individual patient preferences.

Acoustic Wave Therapy uses a device that delivers low-intensity shockwaves to the affected area. This therapy is routinely utilized to boost blood flow, relieve pain and inflammation, and promote tissue recovery. It’s often used to treat issues like erectile dysfunction and cellulite. However, its low-powered shockwaves may not effectively manage certain conditions.

Unfocused Shockwave Therapy releases high-intensity shockwaves that penetrate a more expansive and deeper tissue region (7cm x 12cm) compared to either focused shockwaves (1cm x 12cm) or radial waves (2cm x 2cm). SoftWave for shoulder pain is the only unfocused shockwave treatment available in the US. Unfocused shockwaves can treat the same conditions as traditional focused shockwave therapy, but they provide superior relief for severe joint and muscle issues such as shoulder, neck, or back pain. Furthermore, unfocused shockwaves may require fewer sessions compared to radial or focused shockwave therapies.

Certain factors make a patient a suitable candidate for shockwave therapy, including:

• Patients with chronic shoulder pain
• Patients with limited success with other therapies
• Patients who prefer non-invasive treatment options

Patients struggling with chronic shoulder pain, such as rotator cuff injuries or shoulder impingement, may find shockwave therapy a viable treatment option. In cases where traditional treatments, like medication and physical therapy, fail to offer significant relief, shockwave therapy may provide a promising alternative.

Additionally, patients who have tried other therapies with limited success may also benefit from shockwave therapy for their shoulder pain. These may include individuals who have tried multiple conservative treatment options without achieving adequate pain relief.

For patients who prefer non-invasive treatments, shockwave therapy offers a non-surgical approach that doesn’t require incisions or anesthesia. This makes it an appealing treatment option for those wishing to avoid more invasive procedures like shoulder surgery.

The Shockwave Therapy Procedure

Gaining clarity about what unfolds during a shockwave therapy session is crucial for patients contemplating this treatment approach for their shoulder pain. Here is what happens during a SoftWave therapy session:

1. Getting Ready: In preparation for the procedure, an ultrasound gel is applied to the back area that’s affected. The shockwave apparatus is subsequently positioned gently on the skin.
2. During the Treatment: During the application, patients will experience a soft tapping or throbbing sensation as shockwaves are transmitted to the injured site. A slight discomfort or pain might be felt by some, yet the use of anesthesia or numbing solutions is generally unnecessary. Open dialogue between the patient and the healthcare provider can assist in pinpointing treatment focus areas and monitoring progress.
3. Post-Treatment: The procedure lasts about 10-15 minutes, after which patients are usually free to get back to their regular activities, with no mandatory rest period for recovery. It might be suggested by some physicians to steer clear of high-impact actions or physical workouts for a span of 24-48 hours.

Shockwave Therapy Side Effects

Like any medical procedure, there’s a small risk of side effects from shockwave therapy. Some of the most commonly reported side effects of shockwave therapy for neck pain include:

• Pain or discomfort during or after treatment
• Swelling or bruising
• Redness or skin irritation
• Numbness or tingling

These side effects are typically mild and short-lived. Most patients can resume their normal activities immediately following the procedure.

The FDA-cleared SoftWave treatment is a safe and effective shockwave therapy for neck pain. Side effects from SoftWave are minimal and non-restrictive. It doesn’t cause bruising or swelling, and any minor redness or soreness typically subsides within one to two days.

The Best Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Pain

Are you looking for safe, reliable, and effective relief from shoulder pain? 

SoftWave therapy is FDA-cleared, patented, and nationally recognized for its leading tissue regeneration technology. Unlike other types of high-energy shockwave treatments, SoftWave is the only shockwave therapy on the market that uses true unfocused shock waves that treat larger and deeper areas of tissue. 

Thousands of patient’s have experienced the benefits of SoftWave for hip pain, including:

• Little to no side effects

• Short treatment time

• Quick recovery

• Long-lasting results

Find a SoftWave Therapy provider near you or learn more about SoftWave and whether or not you’re eligible for full treatment today!