If you’ve been in pain long enough, you already know how this usually goes. You stretch. You rest. You ice it. You try to work through it. Maybe you even did physical therapy or started chiropractic care.
And still, the pain keeps showing up like it pays rent.
That’s usually the moment people start searching for something different, not something that just calms things down for a few hours, but something that helps the body move forward. That’s where shockwave therapy comes in.
If you’ve been wondering whether it’s legit, what it feels like, how many visits it takes, and whether it can help your specific type of pain, this guide covers the same questions we hear every week from patients looking into Pulse Wave™ Shockwave Therapy in Plano.
What Shockwave Therapy Is and How It Works
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive service that uses targeted acoustic waves, basically high-energy pulses, applied to a specific area of the body. Those pulses encourage the body’s natural repair response, especially in tissues that can get stubborn over time, like tendons, fascia, and chronically irritated soft tissue.
Here’s the simple version. Sometimes an area isn’t “actively injured” anymore, but it isn’t fully back to normal either. The tissue gets stuck in a loop of irritation, reduced circulation, and ongoing inflammation. Shockwave therapy is designed to interrupt that pattern and prompt the area to resume healing.
It’s often the next step people look for when they hit that frustrating stage of, “I’ve tried everything… why is this still here?”
Common Reasons People Choose This Option
One of the first things people type into Google is: “Does shockwave therapy work for ___?”
In many cases, it’s used for longer-lasting pain patterns involving soft-tissue strain, tendon irritation, and recurrent flare-ups. It’s especially popular for issues that aren’t severe enough to warrant surgery but are still disruptive enough to affect your day, sleep, and ability to stay active.
Some of the most common concerns we hear about include:
- Ongoing heel pain, including plantar fasciitis
- Achilles tendon irritation
- Tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow
- Shoulder discomfort, including rotator cuff irritation
- Hip and knee pain patterns
- Tight, reactive muscles that won’t “let go”
If pain has been lingering for months or even years, and the area just won’t settle down, shockwave therapy may be a strong next step to discuss.
What It Feels Like in Real Life
Let’s address the biggest worry first.
Most people don’t describe shockwave therapy as truly painful. They describe it as unusual, but manageable, like tapping, pulsing, or rhythmic thumping. If the tissue is irritated, it can feel more intense at first, especially over tender spots.
The surprise for many patients is that once the area starts responding, it often becomes less sensitive with each session. In other words, the tender spots tend to calm down as the tissue becomes less reactive.
So yes, you’ll feel it, especially during your first visit. But it’s also very common to hear something like, “That wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected.”
How Many Sessions You Might Need
This is usually the next question right after “Does it hurt?”
This therapy tends to work best as a short series rather than a one-time appointment. Some people notice changes early, sometimes even after the first session, but longer-term improvement usually builds with repetition.
A typical plan is about six to twelve sessions, depending on the condition, the area, and how long it’s been going on.
If you’ve been dealing with pain for a few weeks, your body may respond faster. If it’s been present for years, the tissue usually needs more time and consistent input to remodel and calm down.
How Soon Will I See Results?
Results vary depending on the area being addressed and how chronic the issue is. That said, many people notice one or more of these changes relatively early—pain feels less sharp, movement feels easier, morning stiffness fades, and the area becomes less reactive during daily activity.
The deeper results usually come from consistency. Shockwave isn’t designed to be a temporary pain reliever. It’s intended to encourage tissue repair, which is a process. It builds.
For many people, the best part isn’t just “my pain is lower.” It’s “I’m finally not thinking about it all day.”
That’s what progress should feel like.
Downtime and Aftercare: What to Expect
For most people, there’s no downtime.
Depending on the area, you may be advised to avoid heavy training for a short time, but day-to-day life usually continues as normal.
Get Help Even If It’s an Old Injury
Shockwave therapy can be helpful for older issues, and this is one of the most hopeful parts of the conversation.
A lot of people assume that if something has hurt for years, it must be permanent. In reality, many long-standing pain patterns persist because the tissue never fully completed the repair process. It’s not always “broken,” sometimes it’s just stuck.
Shockwave therapy may encourage circulation and cellular activity in tissue that has gone quiet or stalled out over time.
So if you’ve had pain for a long time and you’ve stopped believing it can change, this may be a worthwhile conversation to have with a chiropractor.
Who Pulse Wave™ Shockwave Therapy Is Best For
If you’re considering shockwave therapy, here’s a quick way to determine if it’s right for you.
It may be a great fit if your pain has lasted longer than six to twelve weeks, you’ve tried the basics, and the issue keeps flaring up, especially with activity. It’s also a popular option for people who want to avoid injections or surgery if possible.
If that sounds like you, Pulse Wave™ Shockwave Therapy may be a smart next step to explore at Farrar Family Chiropractic.
Ready to Find Out If Shockwave Fits Your Situation?
If chronic pain has been limiting your walking, workouts, workdays, or sleep, you don’t have to keep guessing your way through it. A clear plan feels different, and it starts with an honest conversation about what’s been going on and what may help next.
Schedule a visit to see if Pulse Wave™ Shockwave Therapy makes sense for your needs.