Shockwave (Available at Bogalusa, Franklinton, and Hattiesburg)

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) , commonly referred to simply as shockwave therapy in physical therapy, is a powerful, non-invasive modality used to treat chronic soft tissue injuries and bone disorders.

Unlike HIVAMAT, which uses gentle electrostatic fields to pump fluid out of tissue, shockwave therapy uses high-energy acoustic (sound) waves to physically penetrate tissues, triggering a targeted inflammatory response that kickstarts the body’s natural healing mechanisms.

Two Main Types of Shockwave Therapy*

Physical therapy clinics generally utilize one (or both) of these types:

Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT): The most common type in physical therapy. The energy is greatest at the source (the applicator tip) and spreads out outward and shallower into the tissue. It is ideal for larger treatment areas and superficial soft tissues like calf muscles, the bottom of the foot, or forearms.
Focused Shockwave Therapy (FSWT): The sound waves converge into a single, deeper point inside the body. This allows the therapist to target deeper structures (like deep hip tendons) or highly specific points (like a calcified nodule in a shoulder) without impacting the superficial tissue layers.

Primary Benefits in Physical Therapy

1. Angiogenesis (New Blood Vessel Growth)

2. Immediate and Long-Term Pain Relief

3. Breaking Down Calcifications

4. Stimulating Collagen Production

Common Clinical Indications

Physical therapists typically turn to shockwave therapy for stubborn, chronic conditions that haven’t responded well to standard exercise or manual therapy:

Plantar Fasciitis: Highly effective for chronic heel pain and heel spurs.
Tendinopathies: Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis (jumper’s knee), and rotator cuff injuries.
Epicondylitis: Tennis elbow (lateral) and golfer’s elbow (medial).
Shin Splints: Medial tibial stress syndrome.
Bursitis: Chronic hip (trochanteric) or shoulder bursitis.

*Bogalusa Franklinton and Hattiesburg locations only