Short answer: A new study published in October 2026 by researchers at Harvard Medical School’s Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital found that 87% of athletes with bone stress injuries (stress fractures and stress reactions) returned to pain-free running after a short series of focused shockwave therapy combined with EMTT (extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy), alongside a full plan to fix what caused the injury. Athletes treated within 3 months of injury started running again in about 13 weeks on average. At Adisi Health Center in Hinsdale, Dr. Steve Petzel offers both Storz Medical focused shockwave and EMTT, and you can start with our $249 New Patient Special, which includes your exam and first shockwave treatment. Call (630) 887-1900.

What is a bone stress injury?

A bone stress injury happens when a bone takes more repeated pounding than it can repair. It starts as a stress reaction (irritation and swelling inside the bone) and, if the loading keeps going, can become a stress fracture, a small crack in the bone. Doctors now group these together as bone stress injuries.

They’re common in runners and other athletes who do a lot of impact, and the most frequent spots are the shin bone (tibia), the long bones of the foot (metatarsals), the heel, and the hip. Typical warning signs include:

  • Pain in one spot on a bone that gets worse the longer you run, instead of easing as you warm up
  • Tenderness when you press on the bone itself
  • Pain that starts to show up with walking, or at night
  • Pain that started after a jump in mileage, a new training plan, or a change in shoes or surfaces

Bone stress injuries usually need imaging, often an MRI, to confirm the diagnosis and grade how serious they are. They can also be a sign that your body isn’t getting enough fuel for your training, which affects bone health, so a good plan looks at the whole picture, not just the sore spot.

Doctor reviewing a leg X-ray with a pen, checking for a stress fracture or bone stress injury before shockwave and EMTT treatment in Hinsdale, IL

What did the new 2026 study find?

The study, published October 9, 2026 in the journal Bioengineering, looked back at the charts of 46 athletes with 50 bone stress injuries treated at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, part of Harvard Medical School (Friedman et al., 2026; PubMed 42939032, free full text). Here’s what stood out:

  • Most injuries were serious. 35 of the 50 injuries were high grade on MRI, the kind that often mean a long time away from running.
  • A short course of treatment. Athletes received focused shockwave and EMTT weekly or every other week, averaging about 5 sessions (4.8 on average).
  • 87% returned to pain-free running. 40 of 46 athletes got back to a pain-free return-to-run program.
  • Earlier treatment meant a faster return. Athletes with acute injuries (less than 3 months old) started running again in about 12.9 weeks on average, compared with 23.8 weeks for injuries that had been slow to heal or hadn’t healed after 3 months or more.
  • The whole athlete was treated. Every athlete also had their risk factors managed, including nutrition and energy balance, the location and grade of the injury, and how long it had been going on.

The authors concluded that adding shockwave and EMTT to comprehensive care may allow for a high rate of return to running for athletes with bone stress injuries.

What does other research show?

The new study fits with other research on shockwave for bone:

  • An earlier study in runners: In 2023, the same Harvard-affiliated group reported on 40 runners with 41 bone stress injuries treated with focused shockwave alone, an average of 5 sessions. Every runner returned to pain-free running except one (who had a long-standing navicular fracture and chose surgery), acute injuries returned to running in about 12 weeks, and there were no complications (Beling et al., Bioengineering, 2023; PubMed 37627770).
  • Shockwave vs. surgery: In a small randomized pilot trial, 18 soccer players with stress fractures of the fifth metatarsal (a foot bone known for slow healing) got either surgery with a screw or 3 weekly sessions of focused shockwave. The two groups had no significant differences in bone healing, pain relief, function, or time to return to play, and there were no complications in either group (Ramon et al., Foot & Ankle International, 2023; PubMed 37905784).
  • A 2026 systematic review of 53 studies with 1,835 patients concluded that shockwave may offer an effective, non-invasive treatment for most bone conditions with a favorable safety profile, while noting that more high-quality studies are needed specifically for bone stress injuries (Prisco et al., Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine, 2026; PubMed 41495929).
  • International experts agree on bone uses. A 2025 consensus of 41 shockwave experts from 13 countries, published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, supported the use of shockwave for bone conditions in sports medicine (Rhim et al., 2025; PubMed 40032293).

How do shockwave and EMTT help bone heal?

Shockwave therapy sends strong sound-wave pulses into the injured area to stimulate your body’s own healing response, increasing blood flow and kick-starting tissue repair. Focused shockwave concentrates that energy at a precise depth, which is why it’s the type used for bone.

EMTT (extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy) uses high-energy pulsed magnetic fields that reach deep into bone and dense tissue. The researchers combined the two because EMTT has been proposed to work together with shockwave. EMTT sessions are painless, the applicator doesn’t need to touch your skin, and there’s no recovery time.

At Adisi Health Center, we have Storz Medical focused and radial shockwave and EMTT on site, so both can be done in the same visit. Learn more about EMTT therapy in Hinsdale and shockwave therapy in Hinsdale.

Who might be a good fit?

Shockwave and EMTT may be worth discussing if you:

  • Have a confirmed bone stress injury or stress fracture in the shin, foot, or another common running spot
  • Have a stress fracture that is healing slowly or keeps flaring when you try to run again
  • Want to get back to running without surgery and are willing to follow a gradual return-to-run plan

Dr. Petzel will review your imaging and history, and he’ll work with your physician when needed. Some stress fractures, especially those in the hip (femoral neck) or certain foot bones, are considered high risk and need close medical management first. If shockwave isn’t the right fit for you, he’ll tell you.

What does treatment look like?

Every plan is personalized. In the new study, athletes averaged about 5 sessions, given weekly or every other week. Shockwave sessions at Adisi Health Center take about 20 minutes, and EMTT sessions take 15 to 20 minutes. There’s no downtime, so you can go back to your day, though we recommend avoiding high-impact activity for 24 to 48 hours after each shockwave session.

Treatment works best as part of a full recovery plan, which can include:

  • A gradual return-to-run progression that only moves forward while you’re pain-free
  • Strength work for your hips, calves, and feet to share the load
  • A look at your training load, shoes, and surfaces
  • Attention to nutrition and fueling, since under-eating for your training can weaken bone

Two runners jogging on a snowy suburban road in winter, back to running after a stress fracture treated with shockwave and EMTT in Hinsdale, IL

What if I have more than one injury?

Runners often have more than one problem at a time, like a stress fracture and an Achilles or plantar fasciitis flare. If your injury is severe or you have several problem areas, our Recovery Memberships are the most complete way to recover faster. Both plans let you combine up to 4 therapies per visit, including shockwave, EMTT, Class IV laser, and TECAR. The Membership plan includes up to 20 minutes of shockwave per week, and the Premium plan includes 2 shockwave sessions per week, so every injured area can be treated on a serious, accelerated schedule.

When should I get help right away?

Get medical care promptly if you have pain in the groin or front of the hip with running or walking (a possible femoral neck stress fracture, which can become serious), if you can’t put weight on your leg or foot, if a bone is visibly deformed, or if you have swelling, redness, and fever. Don’t try to run through bone pain that’s getting worse.

Frequently asked questions

Can shockwave therapy help a stress fracture?
Research is encouraging. In a new 2026 study, 87% of athletes with bone stress injuries returned to pain-free running after focused shockwave combined with EMTT and comprehensive care. An earlier study of runners treated with focused shockwave found all but one returned to pain-free running, with no complications.

How long does a stress fracture take to heal with shockwave?
In the new study, athletes with injuries less than 3 months old started running again in about 13 weeks on average, compared with about 24 weeks for injuries that had been slow to heal. Starting treatment earlier was linked with a faster return.

How many shockwave and EMTT sessions will I need?
Plans are personalized. Athletes in the 2026 study averaged about 5 sessions, given weekly or every other week.

Is shockwave safe for bone stress injuries?
Studies of shockwave for bone stress injuries have reported no complications, and a 2026 review of 53 studies found a favorable safety profile. Dr. Petzel reviews your full health history first to make sure it’s right for you.

Does EMTT hurt?
No. EMTT is painless, the applicator doesn’t need to touch your skin, and there’s no recovery time. Shockwave usually feels like a strong tapping with mild discomfort.

Do I need an MRI first?
Bone stress injuries usually need imaging, often an MRI, to confirm the diagnosis and grade. Dr. Petzel will review your imaging and coordinate with your physician when needed.

Can I keep running during treatment?
Not through bone pain. You’ll follow a gradual return-to-run plan that only moves forward while you’re pain-free, and we recommend avoiding high-impact activity for 24 to 48 hours after each shockwave session.

How much does treatment cost in Hinsdale?
The $249 New Patient Special includes your exam and first shockwave treatment. A single shockwave session is $200 per treatment area, a 6-session protocol is $1,050, and EMTT is $115 per session. HSA and FSA are accepted.

Do I need a referral?
No. You can book directly, and same-week openings are often available.

Do you treat runners from outside Hinsdale?
Yes. Runners come to our office at 534 Chestnut Street, Suite 240 in downtown Hinsdale from Oak Brook, Burr Ridge, Clarendon Hills, Western Springs, Downers Grove, Westmont, La Grange, and nearby towns.

Related reading: Can you run with plantar fasciitis?, Achilles tendinitis and back-of-heel pain, runner’s knee treatment, hamstring and calf strain treatment, why shockwave plus exercise heals tendons faster, does shockwave therapy hurt?, and shockwave therapy cost in Hinsdale

Ready to get back to running?

The sooner a bone stress injury is treated, the sooner you can get back to your miles. Book your $249 New Patient Special, which includes your exam and first shockwave treatment, at adisihealth.com/schedule-an-appointment, call Adisi Health Center at (630) 887-1900, or email DrPetzel@AdisiHealth.com.

References

  1. Friedman RL, Sullivan VE, Gaudette LW, Saxena A, Bruneau MM, Tenforde AS. Return to running after extracorporeal magnetotransduction and electromagnetic shockwave therapy for bone stress injuries: a retrospective case series. Bioengineering (Basel). 2026;13(10):1176. doi:10.3390/bioengineering13101176. PubMed 42939032 | Free full text
  2. Beling A, Saxena A, Hollander K, Tenforde AS. Outcomes using focused shockwave for treatment of bone stress injury in runners. Bioengineering (Basel). 2023;10(8):885. PubMed 37627770
  3. Ramon S, Lucenteforte G, Alentorn-Geli E, et al. Shockwave treatment vs surgery for proximal fifth metatarsal stress fractures in soccer players: a pilot study. Foot Ankle Int. 2023;44(12):1256-1265. PubMed 37905784
  4. Prisco LC, Zhao E, Lynch O, Hoo JS, Tenforde AS, Goolsby M. Use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for the management of bone pathologies: a systematic review. Clin J Sport Med. 2026;36(4):e86-e114. PubMed 41495929
  5. Rhim HC, Singh M, Maffulli N, et al. Recommendations for use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in sports medicine: an international modified Delphi study. Br J Sports Med. 2025;59(18):1287-1301. PubMed 40032293

This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Results vary. Prices are current as of November 2026.

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