Process
How SoftWave Therapy Works
Direct answer
The short version
A handheld applicator sends unfocused acoustic pressure waves through the skin into the tissue below. The mechanical stimulus is thought to temporarily increase local blood circulation and stimulate connective tissue. Treatment is typically delivered as a short series of sessions, with reassessment along the way.
1. Evaluation first
A provider examines the painful area, reviews your history and prior treatment, and screens for contraindications. This step determines whether shockwave therapy is even appropriate for you.
2. Mapping the area
Treatment is directed at the tissue that reproduces your pain, which is not always where you feel it. Palpation and your feedback guide where the applicator goes.
3. Delivering the waves
Coupling gel is applied and the applicator is moved over the region while pulses are delivered. Intensity is adjusted to what you can tolerate.
4. Reassessment over a series
Shockwave therapy is generally applied as a course rather than a single session, with reassessment along the way. If nothing is changing, that is important information too.
Why the mechanism talk needs a caveat
Much of what is said about shockwave "stimulating healing" comes from cell-culture and animal studies. That research is genuinely interesting, but a biological effect in a laboratory is not the same as a clinical improvement in a person's pain and function. The clinical question is answered by trials, and those results are mixed by condition.
This page describes a general process, not your treatment plan. What is appropriate for you can only be determined by an in-person evaluation.
Common questions
How does SoftWave therapy work?
SoftWave® delivers unfocused acoustic pressure waves into tissue. The proposed mechanisms studied in the shockwave literature include a temporary increase in local blood circulation, mechanical stimulation of connective tissue and changes in local pain signalling. These mechanisms come largely from laboratory and animal research and do not guarantee a clinical result.
How long does a session take?
Shockwave sessions are typically short — often only a few minutes of applicator time per treated area, plus assessment. The exact length depends on the region being treated.
Is there downtime afterwards?
Shockwave therapy is generally performed without downtime. Temporary soreness, redness or mild swelling in the treated area is commonly reported and usually short-lived. Your provider will tell you what to expect and what to avoid.
How soon would someone notice a change?
There is no reliable answer that applies to everyone. Published protocols usually assess response over a series of sessions and at follow-up weeks later. We will not publish a timeline as a promise.
See if SoftWave therapy is worth exploring for your pain.
Candidacy is determined by evaluation — not by a website. Start with the quiz or call the clinic directly.
Serving Iowa City, Coralville and surrounding Johnson County communities from Total Health Chiropractic's Coralville clinic.