Shockwave Therapy in Edmonton: What It Treats and How It Works

Shockwave therapy is usually considered for one specific kind of problem: a stubborn tendon or soft tissue complaint that has not settled with several months of ordinary care. If you have had plantar fasciitis since the spring, or an elbow that has been sore since you repainted the fence, and stretching and rest have not moved it, this is the category of treatment that tends to come up.

This guide explains what shockwave therapy is, what it is commonly used for, what a session actually feels like, and who it does and does not suit. Beverly Physiotherapy serves Edmonton’s east end, including Beverly, Clareview, Belvedere, and Abbottsfield, and shock wave therapy is one of the services we offer alongside physiotherapy.

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy, sometimes called extracorporeal shockwave therapy or ESWT, uses high-energy acoustic pressure waves delivered through the skin into the affected tissue. A handheld applicator is pressed against the area and pulses of mechanical energy pass into the tissue underneath.

Despite the name, there is no electric shock involved. The word refers to the acoustic pressure wave, not to electricity. The pulses are mechanical, and the sensation is closer to a rapid, firm tapping than anything electrical.

The mechanism is worth understanding, because it explains why it is used where it is used. Chronic tendon problems are often not primarily inflammatory. What tends to happen is that the tissue enters a stalled state where the normal repair process has quietly given up, and the area is left thickened and painful without ever properly resolving. The working theory behind shockwave is that the mechanical stimulus provokes a fresh local response, restarting activity in tissue that has settled into that stalled pattern.

What is shockwave therapy used for?

It is most often used for persistent tendon and soft tissue conditions that have not responded to several months of conservative care. The word persistent matters. This is generally not a first-line treatment for an injury that happened last week.

Conditions it is commonly used for include:

Plantar fasciitis. Persistent heel pain, classically at its worst on the first steps in the morning.
Achilles tendinopathy. Pain and thickening in the tendon at the back of the ankle.
Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow. Pain on the outside or inside of the elbow, often from repetitive gripping.
Rotator cuff tendinopathy. Shoulder pain, frequently with overhead activity.
Patellar tendinopathy. Pain at the front of the knee, common in jumping and running sports.
Greater trochanteric pain. Pain on the outside of the hip, often worse lying on that side.
Calcific tendinopathy. Where calcium deposits have formed within a tendon.

Whether it suits your particular situation depends on your history, how long the problem has been present, what has already been tried, and what the assessment finds. That is a conversation to have at an appointment rather than a question this article can answer.

Does shockwave therapy hurt?

Most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful, and it is brief. The sensation is a rapid, firm tapping over the area, and it is often most noticeable directly over the sorest spot, which makes sense given that is where the tissue is already sensitive.

What to expect practically:

Session length. The shockwave portion itself is usually only a few minutes. It sits within a longer appointment that includes assessment and other treatment.
Intensity is adjustable. Your physiotherapist starts lower and adjusts based on your feedback. Tell them what you are feeling, because the setting is meant to be tolerable.
Afterwards. The area can feel tender, warm, or slightly achy for a day or so. Some people notice mild redness. This generally settles on its own.
Course of treatment. It is typically delivered as a series of sessions spaced roughly a week apart rather than as a one-off.
Activity. Your physiotherapist will advise on loading afterward. High-impact activity immediately after a session is usually not the plan.

Who should not have shockwave therapy?

It is not appropriate for everyone, and this is part of what the assessment is for. Shockwave therapy is generally not used where a person is pregnant, has a blood clotting disorder or is on blood-thinning medication, has an active infection or tumour in the treatment area, has a nerve or major blood vessel directly in the path, or over open growth plates in children and adolescents.

Some cardiac devices and implants are also a consideration depending on the location of treatment. This list is not exhaustive, which is exactly why the decision follows an assessment rather than preceding it. Tell your physiotherapist about your medications and medical history, including anything you think is unrelated.

Is shockwave therapy a standalone treatment?

No, and this is the point most worth taking away. Shockwave is a tool used within a physiotherapy plan, not a replacement for one.

Depending on the problem, that plan may also draw on chiropractic care for the joints and spine.

The reason is straightforward. Chronic tendon problems are load problems. The tissue has become unable to tolerate what is being asked of it, and something in your training, your work, or your daily habits has been asking that of it repeatedly. Shockwave may help address the state of the tissue, but it does not change the load. If the underlying pattern is unchanged, the problem has every reason to come back.

So it is typically combined with:

Progressive loading exercise. Structured strengthening for the tendon, which is the most established component of tendon rehabilitation.
Activity modification. Adjusting what is currently overloading the area, without stopping everything.
Manual therapy. Where it supports comfort and movement.
Footwear, orthotics, or technique changes. Where the assessment points to those as contributors.
Education. Understanding that tendons respond slowly, and that a plan measured in months is normal rather than a sign of failure.

Anyone offering shockwave on its own, without the loading program alongside it, is offering you half the treatment. You can see how it fits with our other services on our physiotherapy services in Edmonton page.

Common questions about shockwave therapy

How many sessions will I need? It is usually delivered as a short series, but the number depends on your presentation and response. Your physiotherapist will discuss the plan at your assessment.

Is it covered by insurance? Coverage varies by plan. Some extended health plans cover it within a physiotherapy visit and some do not. Check with your provider, and ask us if you are unsure how to.

Do I need a referral? No. In Alberta you can book a physiotherapy assessment directly.

How soon might I notice a change? This varies considerably between people and conditions. Tendon tissue adapts slowly, so this is not generally a treatment that produces an immediate result, and expecting one sets you up for disappointment.

Is it the same as ultrasound or laser? No. Those are different modalities with different mechanisms and different evidence bases, even though clinics sometimes group them together.

Book an assessment in Edmonton

Shockwave therapy is a useful option for stubborn tendon pain that has not settled with time and ordinary care, used as part of a physiotherapy plan rather than on its own. Whether it is right for you depends on what is actually going on, which is what an assessment is for.

Beverly Physiotherapy serves Edmonton’s east end from 4229 118 Avenue NW, and no doctor’s referral is needed in Alberta. To book an assessment, call us at (825) 435-4600 or request an appointment through our Edmonton physiotherapy appointment page. You can also read about our approach on our physiotherapy in Edmonton page.

This article is general information and education. It is not a substitute for an individual assessment by a physiotherapist. Whether any treatment is appropriate for you depends on your individual assessment.