---
title: "Shockwave Therapy and Injuries"
url: https://alsuprun.com/blog/frequency-therapy/shockwave-therapy-and-injuries/
author: "Editorial"
date: 2026-09-14T22:42:57+00:00
categories: ["frequency therapy"]
tags: []
---

# Shockwave Therapy and Injuries

Shockwave therapy is an innovative non-invasive solution to various musculoskeletal ailments, stimulating your body’s natural healing processes while decreasing pain in tendons, muscles and bones.

 Shockwave therapy involves applying a gel ointment to the treatment area, then touching an acoustic wave applicator onto injured tissues. Different machines provide different frequencies which affect how deeply sound waves penetrate the skin.

 

## Lower Frequencies

 Shockwave therapy (ESWT), also known as extracorporeal shockwave treatment (ECST), is an innovative noninvasive pain therapy solution suitable for many different injuries and conditions, such as sports injuries, tendonitis, arthritis and plantar fasciitis. Shockwave can also speed the healing process after an injury and help minimize scar tissue formation.

 [![Rejuvenate your whole body & balance your health without medications - now remotely!](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/BioresonanceTopAd.png)](https://www.bioresonance.rent) There are different forms of shockwave therapies, including radial and focused shockwave therapy. Though they vary in terms of energy delivery, all three use mechanical pressure waves to stimulate the body’s natural response to pain relief and to stimulate its own natural defense mechanisms. One major distinction among them is frequency of soundwaves used, which affects how deeply they penetrate as well as the amount of energy released into the body.

 Frequency (Hz) measures how quickly shockwaves are delivered by machines to their treatment area. Higher frequencies allow practitioners to treat large areas more efficiently in clinic settings where time may be limited. However, higher frequencies don’t necessarily translate to stronger energy; indeed they may cause discomfort if too high for individual patient tolerance levels.

 Not only does frequency affect its effects on tissues, but so too does type. Lower frequency shockwaves tend to have deeper penetration into bone and soft tissue compared with higher frequency ones, while energy distribution changes with frequency: lower frequencies have a broader reach whereas higher frequencies produce concentrated energies.

 [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/ForeverYoungYouWannaBe.png)](https://alsuprun.com/services.html#Contact) Shockwave therapy’s goal for any injury is to increase fluid movement within an injured area, relieving tension and pressure and speeding healing time, which in turn reduces pain and stiffness symptoms. Your provider will apply gel ointment before using a hand-held probe to deliver shockwaves directly onto painful spots with each one causing a “click” sound similar to when snapping a rubber band or hitting something hard; these sensations should dissipate after several seconds.

 

## Higher Frequencies

 When purchasing a shockwave device, two technical parameters tend to receive the most consideration: frequency (Hz) and pressure (Bar). Both parameters play an integral part in achieving successful clinical results while providing patient comfort. By understanding their interactions, practitioners, distributors, and buyers can ensure effective treatment outcomes while keeping patients satisfied with treatment results.

 Increased frequency increases the pulses per minute delivered to a target area, increasing energy delivery and improving efficiency. Unfortunately, however, increased frequency doesn’t directly result in greater mechanical stimulation of tissues; its actual effect depends on both frequency and pressure factors combined together.

 Pressure is measured in Bar and refers to the intensity of mechanical shock waves. As pressure increases, so too do its effects; however, an increase may also increase discomfort during treatment; therefore it is vitally important to carefully adjust and monitor this variable according to clinical case.

 Both frequency and pressure settings of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (rESWT) play a significant role in determining treatment results. A recent study demonstrated this with results for treating plantar fasciitis showing superior outcomes when used at 15Hz frequency with 3.0 bar density as opposed to 10Hz at 2.0 Bar density. Furthermore, using lower frequencies allows tissues to absorb more energy before receiving another pulse, leading to greater patient comfort.

 Settings selection plays a pivotal role in the outcome of lithotripsy procedures. If there is insufficient attention paid to coupling the shock wave generator with skin, air pockets may form between it and patient tissue, diminishing energy transmission. Furthermore, selecting too soft a coupling medium could reduce efficiency as well.

 [![](https://alsuprun.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/RadionicMerch.png)](https://alsuprun.com/merch.html) As well as selecting the appropriate frequency and pressure settings, lithotripsy physicians must also make sure the stone is correctly positioned within the focal zone. Improper positioning may cause it to move around with every pulse, lessening effectiveness. To avoid this scenario, physicians should follow recommendations by the German Society for Shock Wave Lithotripsy as well as IEC 63045:2020 standard guidelines.

 

## Radial

 Ultrasound and shockwave therapy is an excellent way to speed up healing time after an injury and get you back to regular activities sooner. It is noninvasive, relatively painless therapy covered by most insurance plans; however it’s important to note that shockwave isn’t necessarily appropriate for all injuries; in certain instances one approach might work better or both may prove ineffective.

 Pressure wave therapy requires an intricate understanding of physical and biological processes involved. Therefore, it is vital that any device approved by a medical device regulatory authority (e.g. FDA) be utilized; such devices have been shown to be safe and effective while meeting strict standards of design and application.

 As regards how shockwaves are generated, there can be considerable confusion in the literature. This may be caused by different definitions within physics or simply due to differences between devices used and treatments protocols employed; ultimately leading to inconsistent evaluation of clinical outcomes and less clarity regarding important physical parameters.

 Impulse measures the intensity of radial shock waves at their source and should not be taken as an accurate representation of biological response. Instead, this value serves to compare equipment between locations but should not be seen as indicative of biological responses; focus refers to an area within a body where significant biological effects of the shockwave have occurred and is determined by pressure level of its focus point (5 MPa in this instance).

 For optimal results, it is vital that the radial shock waves be directed precisely toward the site of injury or dysfunction. At NYDNRehab, diagnostic ultrasound imaging is used to guide these waves during ESWT sessions so as to target them at their source rather than reflecting back onto any bone structures which could reflect back the energy back to source, thus decreasing or even eliminating therapeutic benefits.

 

## Focused

 Focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) is an innovative treatment method designed to address certain musculoskeletal conditions, such as rotator cuff tendinopathy or chronic plantar fasciitis. FSWT utilizes deep tissue sound waves which have been scientifically and clinically demonstrated to stimulate stem cells, blood flow, cellular regeneration processes and natural healing processes in the human body.

 This method helps the body overcome pain and dysfunction caused by these conditions without surgery, in an outpatient setting. It has proven particularly successful for those who have not responded positively to other conservative therapies, such as exercise, physical therapy and medications.

 Extracorporeal shock wave therapy works through multiple pathways. It activates intrinsic physiological tissue repair mechanisms such as acoustic mechanical stimuli that modulate cellular signalling pathways and increase activity of pain-related neuropeptides while simultaneously increasing local blood flow, neovascularisation, stimulation of tenocytes, collagen synthesis and osteogenic signalling processes6.

 Recent research suggests that shockwave therapy can also help decrease central sensitization of nociceptors that is likely the source of chronic pain for some patients with tendinopathy, via decreased antinociceptive control, increased nociceptive processing by the thalamus and disruption in normal inhibition of spinal cord noradrenergic responses to painful stimuli43.

 Shockwave therapy has proven particularly useful for treating chronic calcific or fibrotic tendinopathy and myofascial trigger points in patients. Radial or focused shockwave therapy may be used as an additional conservative therapy alongside load management, progressive exercise therapy and active rehabilitation to treat such conditions.

 At RECURIO, we use focused and radial shockwave therapy as part of a systematic treatment concept after medical indication. The choice between focused or radial shockwave therapy depends on factors like target structure depth/irritability as well as therapeutic goals for each individual case.

 Shockwave therapy is safe, non-invasive, and does not produce any side effects. Your physiotherapist will discuss the best option for you during a medical consultation, using our Storz Duolith Ultra LiESWT machine at RECURIO for focused shockwave therapy sessions; its clinical efficacy in improving erectile function and hardness has been clinically verified for men suffering from vascular-driven ED. Focused shockwave therapy feels similar to flicking an elastic band; intensity can be adjusted as needed throughout each treatment session for maximum comfort during treatment sessions.

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