Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Pain: What It Is, How It Works, and Who It Helps

If you’ve been dealing with stubborn tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, or a shoulder injury that just won’t heal — you may have heard about shockwave therapy. Once used exclusively in elite sports medicine clinics, it’s now widely available and backed by strong clinical evidence.

At Physiatrix Rehab in Delta, BC, we use shockwave therapy as a powerful tool to accelerate healing for conditions that haven’t responded to conventional physiotherapy alone.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) delivers high-energy acoustic waves through the skin to injured tissue. These waves stimulate the body’s own healing response by:

• Increasing blood flow to chronically injured areas
• Breaking down calcifications and scar tissue
• Stimulating collagen production
• Desensitizing overactive pain receptors

“Extracorporeal” simply means it’s applied from outside the body — no needles, no surgery.

What Conditions Does Shockwave Therapy Treat?

Plantar Fasciitis

One of the most common causes of heel pain. Shockwave therapy is now a first-line treatment for plantar fasciitis that hasn’t resolved with stretching and orthotics.

Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis)

Chronic outer elbow pain from repetitive strain — common in office workers and athletes alike.

Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis)

Pain on the inside of the elbow from overuse. Shockwave therapy reduces pain and speeds tendon repair.

Calcific Shoulder Tendinitis

Calcium deposits in the rotator cuff tendons cause significant pain and restricted movement. Shockwave breaks down these deposits without surgery.

Achilles Tendinopathy

Chronic Achilles tendon pain — whether midportion or insertional — responds exceptionally well to shockwave therapy.

Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee)

Knee tendon pain below the kneecap, common in runners and jumping athletes.

What Does a Shockwave Therapy Session Look Like?

A typical session at Physiatrix Rehab takes 15–20 minutes and is performed by one of our trained physiotherapists:

1. The target area is identified using palpation and patient feedback
2. A gel is applied to the skin to help conduct the shockwaves
3. The shockwave applicator is moved across the area in a controlled pattern
4. Most patients receive 3–6 sessions, spaced 5–7 days apart

You may feel some discomfort during the treatment — this is normal and indicates the therapy is reaching the right tissue. Most patients notice significant improvement within 2–3 sessions.

Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?

You may be a good candidate if your tendon or soft tissue pain has persisted for 3+ months, you’ve tried physiotherapy, rest, and anti-inflammatories without lasting relief, or you want to avoid cortisone injections or surgery.

Shockwave therapy is NOT recommended if you are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, take blood thinners, or have a pacemaker.

Book Shockwave Therapy in Delta, BC

Physiatrix Rehab offers shockwave therapy as part of a comprehensive physiotherapy treatment plan. We combine it with manual therapy, exercise programming, and education to deliver the best possible outcomes.

Direct billing available for extended health benefits, ICBC, and WorkSafeBC.

Book a Shockwave Therapy Assessment →

Location: 105 – 11957 80 Ave, Delta, BC V4C 0E1 | 604-728-7626