Quick answer: Recent research reviews published in 2025 and 2026 show that extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) can reduce pain from several stubborn tendon and soft-tissue problems. The best evidence is for plantar heel pain (plantar fasciitis), tennis elbow, rotator cuff tendinopathy and Achilles tendinopathy. Research on patellar tendon (“jumper’s knee”) pain and chronic low back pain is promising but more mixed. Many of the underlying trials are small or of uneven quality, so shockwave is not a guaranteed fix. It works best as part of a full plan that includes exercise and load management. At Adisi Health Center in Hinsdale, Dr. Steve Petzel offers shockwave therapy for patients who fit the profile the research supports.

What is shockwave therapy?

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy sends short, strong sound-wave pulses through the skin into an injured area. “Extracorporeal” just means the waves come from outside the body. No needles, incisions or medications are involved. There are two main types:

  • Focused shockwave, which concentrates energy at a set depth.
  • Radial shockwave, which spreads energy over a broader, shallower area.

Researchers think shockwave works by stimulating the body’s repair response in tissue that has stopped healing on its own, and by changing how pain signals are processed. Those mechanisms are still being studied.

What does the newest research say about shockwave therapy?

Here is a plain-language summary of recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. These studies pool the results of many clinical trials, so they are the strongest type of evidence available. Each one is linked so you can read it yourself.

Does shockwave therapy work for plantar fasciitis and heel pain?

A 2025 network meta-analysis in PM&R (Zhao et al.) combined 22 randomized controlled trials with 2,299 adults who had plantar heel pain. Low-, medium- and high-intensity shockwave were all more likely than placebo to produce treatment success. For pain relief, medium- and high-intensity shockwave beat placebo, and patients tolerated shockwave about as well as placebo. The authors also rated the certainty of the evidence as low to very low, because many of the trials had risk-of-bias problems. In short, the results are encouraging, and better trials are still needed.

Does shockwave help tendinitis and tendinopathy?

A large 2026 network meta-analysis in Orthopaedic Surgery (Guo et al.) covered 65 randomized trials with 3,921 patients and five tendon conditions. The authors concluded that, compared with control groups, shockwave improved pain and tendon-severity measures in tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), rotator cuff tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy and greater trochanteric (outer hip) pain syndrome. Compared with other conservative treatments, it held a “favorable position” for tennis elbow, Achilles and rotator cuff problems. They described the evidence as “limited,” and they found no significant benefit over placebo for patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee).

What about tennis elbow specifically?

A 2025 meta-analysis in the European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology (Alharbi) compared shockwave with therapeutic ultrasound in 9 randomized trials (654 participants) with tennis elbow. Shockwave reduced pain more than ultrasound did. The difference in function scores did not reach statistical significance, though, and results varied a lot between studies.

Does shockwave help jumper’s knee (patellar tendinopathy)?

The research disagrees here, and we think you should know that. A 2026 meta-analysis in Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation (Friedman et al.) pooled 13 studies and found that pain and function improved after shockwave by amounts above the thresholds patients notice. That analysis included non-randomized studies and mostly measured change from before to after treatment. The 2026 Guo et al. review above looked only at placebo-controlled comparisons and found no clear advantage for shockwave. Our honest reading: shockwave may help some people with patellar tendon pain, but it should be paired with a strong exercise-based rehab program, not used on its own.

Can shockwave therapy help chronic low back pain?

A 2026 network meta-analysis in the Journal of Pain Research (Zhang et al.) compared nine “physical agent” therapies across 50 randomized trials (2,811 participants) with chronic low back pain. Shockwave ranked among the top options for both pain relief and function. The authors reported “moderate-to-large” pain-relief effects, and they cautioned that the rankings should be weighed against the studies’ limitations. Shockwave is not a stand-alone back pain cure. It may be a useful part of a broader care plan.

Who is a good candidate for shockwave therapy?

Shockwave may be a fit if you:

  • Have heel pain or plantar fasciitis that hasn’t improved with stretching, footwear changes or rest.
  • Have tennis elbow, shoulder (rotator cuff) tendinopathy, Achilles tendon pain or outer-hip pain that has lasted for weeks or months.
  • Want a non-surgical, drug-free option before considering injections or surgery.
  • Are willing to follow a home exercise and activity plan. The research consistently supports shockwave as part of a plan, not a replacement for one.

Who should not have shockwave therapy?

Shockwave is generally well tolerated. The most common side effects are temporary soreness and redness at the treatment site. It is usually not appropriate for people who:

  • Are pregnant.
  • Have a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning medication (discuss with your physician).
  • Have cancer or a tumor in the treatment area, or an active infection there.
  • Have a pacemaker or other implanted device near the treatment area.
  • Have open growth plates (children and some teens) in the area being treated.
  • Have an acute, recent injury such as a fresh tear or fracture, which needs a medical evaluation first.

Dr. Petzel screens every patient before treatment and will tell you honestly if another option is likely to serve you better.

What should I expect during a shockwave session in Hinsdale?

At Adisi Health Center, a typical visit includes:

  1. An evaluation of your injury, history and goals.
  2. Treatment with the shockwave applicator over the painful area. It feels like rapid tapping, and the intensity is adjusted to your comfort.
  3. A plan covering home exercises, activity changes and follow-up visits.

Sessions are short. Studies use a range of protocols, and the number of sessions depends on your condition and how you respond. Dr. Petzel may combine shockwave with chiropractic care and other therapies offered at the clinic when they fit your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is shockwave therapy painful?
Most people feel mild to moderate discomfort during treatment, and the intensity can be adjusted. Temporary soreness afterward is the most commonly reported side effect in the research.

How soon will I notice results?
It varies. Many trials measure outcomes around 12 weeks to 6 months after treatment, because the tissue response takes time.

Is shockwave therapy better than a cortisone shot?
For plantar fasciitis, a 2024 meta-analysis of 16 trials (Cortés-Pérez et al., Clinical Rehabilitation) found shockwave did better than corticosteroid injections on pain and foot function at 3 and 6 months. The right choice depends on your condition, so talk it through with your provider.

Does insurance cover shockwave therapy?
Coverage varies by plan. Call our office at (630) 887-1900 and we’ll help you understand your options.

Is the evidence for shockwave therapy strong?
It is growing and generally positive for heel pain and several tendinopathies, but many trials are small and use different treatment settings. We follow the research closely and update our patients as new studies are published.

Where can I get shockwave therapy near Hinsdale, IL?
Adisi Health Center, 534 Chestnut Street, Suite 240, Hinsdale, IL 60521, serves patients from Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, Oak Brook, Burr Ridge and surrounding communities.

Book a shockwave therapy consultation in Hinsdale

If heel, elbow, shoulder, Achilles, hip or back pain is holding you back, Dr. Steve Petzel can tell you whether shockwave therapy is a good fit. Learn more on our Shockwave Therapy page or call (630) 887-1900 to schedule.

This article is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical advice. Results vary from person to person.

References

  1. Zhao P, He Y, Li M, Wang J, Wang R, Cui X. Comparative efficacy and acceptability of different intensity levels of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in adults with plantar heel pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. PM&R. 2025;17(12):1481–1493. doi:10.1002/pmrj.13417. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40709373/
  2. Guo NY, Wang SQ, Liu W, Mao ZM, Wang JQ, Xu BB. The effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in tendinopathy: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Orthopaedic Surgery. 2026;18(10):2060–2082. doi:10.1111/os.70408. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42733276/
  3. Alharbi M. Comparative efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and ultrasound on pain and functional outcomes in lateral epicondylitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery & Traumatology. 2025;35(1):307. doi:10.1007/s00590-025-04419-w. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40668449/
  4. Friedman A, Spicer S, Garfinkle J, Tahir H. Systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the effects of focal and radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy on pain and function in patellar tendinopathy. Archives of Rehabilitation Research and Clinical Translation. 2026;8(3):100657. doi:10.1016/j.arrct.2026.100657. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42769704/
  5. Zhang Y, Shen W, Jiang X, et al. Comparative efficacy of physical agent therapies for chronic low back pain: a systematic review and network meta-analysis. Journal of Pain Research. 2026;19:629359. doi:10.2147/JPR.S629359. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42662494/
  6. Cortés-Pérez I, Moreno-Montilla L, Ibáñez-Vera AJ, Díaz-Fernández Á, Obrero-Gaitán E, Lomas-Vega R. Efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy, compared to corticosteroid injections, on pain, plantar fascia thickness and foot function in patients with plantar fasciitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Clinical Rehabilitation. 2024. doi:10.1177/02692155241253779. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02692155241253779
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