For patients experiencing chronic pain from musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions or injuries, Valley Health System offers shockwave therapy. This noninvasive treatment uses a handheld device to deliver acoustic pressure waves generated by compressed air to targeted tissues, including tendons, bones, and joints. The waves stimulate the body’s natural healing response, helping to reduce pain and promote tissue repair and regeneration. Shockwave therapy may lead to improved function.
This treatment helps:
- Increase blood flow
- Stimulate cellular activity
- Facilitate the development of collagen
Over time, treatment can help:
- Reduce inflammation and pain
- Reduce the need for pain medication
- Improve mobility
- Support the repair of damaged or chronically injured tissues, joints, bones, and tendons
Types of Shockwave Therapy
There are two different types of shockwave therapy:
- Radial shockwave therapy delivers lower-energy pressure waves across a broader treatment area.
- Focused shockwave therapy concentrates higher-energy waves on specific tissues deeper beneath the skin.
What Conditions are Treated with Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy can be used to treat a wide range of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions, including:
- Acute or chronic tendinopathy (rotator cuff syndrome, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, Achilles tendonitis, etc.)
- Calcific tendinopathies
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Neck and back pain
- Soft tissue injuries
- Sports injuries
- Muscle tightness and trigger points
- Myofascial pain syndrome
- General muscle aches and pain disorders
- Stress fractures or fracture malunion
We customize our treatment plans based on each individual patient’s condition, tissue sensitivity, personal treatment goals, and stage of healing.
Benefits of Shockwave Therapy
Both radial and focused shockwave therapy offer a noninvasive approach to treating musculoskeletal pain and chronic soft tissue conditions. Benefits include:
- Reduced pain and inflammation
- Improved mobility, function, and quality of life
- Reduced reliance on pain medication
- Enhanced blood flow, collagen production, and tissue healing
- Minimal downtime, with treatment sessions typically lasting 20 minutes or less
- Personalized treatment tailored to each individual condition, symptoms, and goals
- Can be used alongside other treatments and therapies, including physical therapy and platelet-rich plasma injections
Who Is a Candidate for Shockwave Therapy?
Radial and focused shockwave therapy are effective treatment options for a wide range of patients, 16 years old and older, who are experiencing musculoskeletal pain or chronic soft tissue conditions. During an initial consultation, we review your medical history and any contraindications to determine whether this treatment is right for you and whether radial or focused shockwave therapy is your best option.
What to Expect with Shockwave Therapy at Valley
If you are undergoing radial shockwave therapy, your care begins with a comprehensive consultation and evaluation with one of our specially trained chiropractic physicians Lori Nuzzi, DC, Director of Integrative Medicine, and Christina Markar Khawam, DC.
If you are considering focused shockwave therapy, you will undergo a comprehensive consultation and evaluation with one of our physiatrists, physicians who are board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They are Jack Annunziato, DO; Samuel Jacob, DO; and Zhi Cheng Chen, MD.
Your physiatrist or chiropractic physician will assess your condition, discuss your treatment goals, and determine whether you are a good candidate for radial or focused shockwave therapy.
Physician-Led Treatment
Unlike many facilities where treatment may be performed by medical assistants or technicians, every shockwave therapy session at Valley is administered and closely monitored by physicians who have advanced training and expertise in shockwave therapy and musculoskeletal care.
Our doctors can make real-time adjustments throughout each session based on your symptoms, comfort level, and response to treatment. They also incorporate movement and functional assessment during treatment, guiding joints and tissues through their full range of motion to ensure all affected areas are addressed. Real-time ultrasound can also be used as needed to further ensure accurate localization of injured tissues or regions with calcifications.
How Often is Shockwave Therapy Performed?
Shockwave therapy is typically performed once or twice a week, with most treatment sessions lasting 20 minutes or less. Despite its short duration, the treatment delivers targeted energy to the affected area, stimulating the body's natural healing processes. This means that even a brief appointment can help promote recovery, improve function, and support long-term therapeutic benefits.
The number of sessions will vary depending on each individual patient’s condition, how long symptoms have been present, and personal treatment goals.
Is Shockwave Therapy Painful?
Shockwave therapy is well-tolerated by most patients. Side effects, which are typically mild and resolve quickly, include:
- Mild soreness or discomfort
- Redness, bruising, or skin irritation
- Swelling
Why Choose Valley for Shockwave Therapy?
- Advanced, noninvasive treatment: Valley’s shockwave therapy is delivered by board-certified physiatrists and chiropractic physicians using state-of-the-art technology with varying dosages of acoustic pressure.
- Personalized treatment: Your treatment – radial or focused shockwave therapy – is individualized to your specific condition, tissue sensitivity, personal treatment goals, and stage of healing.
- Collaborative team: Our team works in tandem with other members of your treatment team, including physical and occupational therapists, integrative medicine specialists, and sports medicine practitioners, to enhance outcomes and patient satisfaction.
- Timely relief: In most cases, patients experience pain relief and tissue healing after two to six sessions of 20-minute treatments.
Schedule an Appointment
Radial shockwave therapy is available through Valley’s Integrative Medicine practice, with locations in Ridgewood and Montvale. No physician referrals are needed to begin treatment. To schedule an appointment or to learn more, call 201-746-9389.
Focused shockwave therapy is available through Valley’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at Valley Health System – Ridgewood Campus. No physician referral is necessary for your first consultation appointment with one of our physiatrists at an office in Ridgewood, Montvale, or Wayne. Call 201-612-4857 to schedule.
