Therapy explained
SoftWave Therapy, Explained Without the Hype
Direct answer
What is SoftWave therapy?
SoftWave® is a brand of extracorporeal shockwave therapy. A handheld applicator sends unfocused, low-intensity acoustic pressure waves through the skin into the tissue underneath. There are no needles, no incisions and no anaesthesia, and sessions are performed in a clinic in a matter of minutes.
"Extracorporeal" simply means the energy is generated outside the body. The waves are mechanical — pressure, not electricity, heat or radiation.
How is SoftWave different from other shockwave devices?
Shockwave devices are usually grouped three ways. Focused devices concentrate energy at a target depth. Radial devices generate a pressure wave at the skin that disperses as it travels inward. SoftWave uses unfocused, electrohydraulically generated shockwaves that spread over a broader area at lower peak intensity.
This distinction matters when reading research: a positive trial of a focused device is evidence about that device and protocol, not automatically about SoftWave.
What happens during a session?
- 1. Evaluation. The provider examines the area, reviews your history and determines whether the approach is appropriate at all.
- 2. Gel and applicator. Coupling gel is applied so the waves transmit into tissue.
- 3. Treatment. The applicator is moved over the area, delivering pulses. Most sessions take only a few minutes per region.
- 4. Afterwards. There is generally no downtime; some people notice temporary soreness or redness.
What is it thought to do in the tissue?
Proposed mechanisms in the literature include a temporary increase in local blood circulation, mechanical stimulation of connective tissue, and changes in local pain signalling. These are proposed mechanisms studied largely in laboratory and animal models — they are not proof of a clinical outcome for any individual.
What SoftWave is FDA-cleared for
- Relief of minor muscle aches and pains
- Temporary increase in local blood circulation
- Activation of connective tissue
Acoustic pressure shockwaves in the treatment of chronic, full-thickness diabetic foot ulcers with wound areas no larger than 16 cm², extending through the epidermis, dermis, tendon or capsule, but without bone exposure.
These clearances do not establish FDA clearance for every orthopedic condition discussed on this site. See the regulatory section for sources.
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.