When I was in high school, I suffered a serious back injury. It was so painful that it almost kept me from playing collegiate rugby.
Though thanks to a Gonstead Chiropractor, I eventually recovered and played. What could have happened if we knew about shockwave therapy ? my recovery might have been a lot faster.
Now, as the owner of The Disc Chiropractic, I use shockwave therapy, or ESWT, to help athletes and active individuals such as yourself recover.
In this blog, I’ll explain how shockwave therapy works, the injuries it can help, and what studies show about real results and recovery times.
What is Shockwave Therapy ?
Shockwave therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves to help injured tissues heal.
These waves reach the damaged area, break down calcified trigger points and encourage collagen reproduction for tissue repair.
There are two types: focused and radial.
Focused waves target deeper tissues with more energy, while radial waves cover a larger area with lower energy.
Shockwave is non-invasive, so there are no cuts or long recovery times. Most patients experience only mild soreness or redness at the treatment site.
It works on tendons, muscles, and even small bone injuries.
Some common sports injuries treated with shockwave include:
- Achilles tendinopathy, hamstring tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and plantar fasciitis.
- Soft tissue injuries, both indirect and direct muscle strains, as well as hematomas.
- Stress fractures and medial tibial stress syndrome.
Evidence Based Outcomes on Sports Injuries
Research shows that shockwave therapy can improve recovery and performance in athletes with sports injuries.
For muscle injuries, a single session of focused shockwave therapy provided pain relief, increased force, and improved daily function following delayed-onset muscle soreness from training
For chronic injuries, ESWT can accelerate return to sport. Athletes with medial tibial stress syndrome who received F-SWT alongside a graded running program recovered faster.
They were able to run 18 minutes consecutively without pain.
In football players with osteitis pubis (bone edema of the pubic bone), shockwave reduced pain and improved hip function scores at one and three months.
These players returned to football significantly sooner than those who did not receive ESWT — 73.2 days versus 102.6 days.
These studies show that shockwave therapy can reduce pain and accelerate recovery for many athletes, especially when combined with therapeutic exercises.
Recommended Number of Sessions for Common Sports Injuries
Research and clinical experience suggest the following protocols for athletes receiving ESWT:
- Muscle injuries: 3 to 5 sessions of ESWT over approximately 30 days have been shown to improve muscle elasticity, tone, and recruitment.
- Osteitis pubis (pubic bone edema) in football players: ESWT improved pain and hip function, allowing athletes to return to the sport sooner benefits were observed in 10 weeks.
- Patellar tendinopathy: Three sessions showed short-term benefits during a competitive season.
Safety & Side Effects
Shockwave therapy is generally safe for athletes when applied correctly. Most patients experience only mild and temporary side effects.
These can include slight soreness or redness, which usually resolves within a day or two.
Because ESWT is non-invasive, there are no cuts, stitches, or long recovery periods like surgery.
Athletes can usually continue training and daily activities with minimal interruption.
There are some absolute and relative contraindications. ESWT should be avoided over open wounds, infections, or tumors.
Overall, when applied according to evidence-based protocols, ESWT is well-tolerated and safe, making it a practical option for both acute and chronic sports injuries.
Final Thoughts
At The Disc Chiropractic, we use shockwave therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to each athlete’s injury and goals.
By applying evidence-based protocols and combining the therapy with chiropractic adjustments or other therapies such as spinal decompression, we aim to help athletes recover efficiently and return to play with confidence.
FAQs About Sports Injuries
How does shockwave therapy help athletes recover from sports injuries?
Shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate tissue healing, reduce pain, and improve muscle and tendon function. Many research shows it can speed up recovery from muscle strains, tendinopathies, and stress-related bone injuries, helping athletes return to training or competition faster.
How many shockwave therapy sessions do athletes usually need?
The number of sessions depends on the type and severity of the injury. For muscle strains, studies show 1–3 sessions can improve elasticity and reduce soreness. For chronic injuries like medial tibial stress syndrome or osteitis pubis, 1–3 weekly sessions over several weeks combined with exercise programs have been shown to accelerate recovery and return to sport.
Is shockwave therapy safe for sports injuries?
Yes. ESWT is non-invasive and generally well-tolerated. Temporary side effects may include mild soreness, redness, or minor bruising at the treatment site. Most athletes can continue training while receiving treatment. It should not be used over open wounds, infections, tumors, or during pregnancy.