Acoustic Wave Treatment
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy
A non-invasive treatment that delivers focused acoustic pressure waves to musculoskeletal tissues to stimulate healing, break down calcifications, and reduce chronic pain.
What is shockwave therapy?
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic waves generated outside the body and focused on specific target tissues. The technology comes from lithotripsy, the breaking up of kidney stones.
At St. George Hospital, shockwave therapy is used to treat chronic tendinopathies, calcifications, and pain conditions that have not responded to conventional conservative treatment.
How does it work?
Shockwave pulses create controlled microtrauma in the target tissue, which triggers the body’s natural healing response. This includes neovascularization (new blood vessel formation), recruitment of stem cells, increased growth factor production, and dissolution of calcific deposits. The mechanical energy also directly disrupts pain-transmitting nerve fibers, providing immediate analgesic effects.
Two main types are used: focused shockwave therapy (fESWT), which delivers concentrated energy to a precise focal point, and radial pressure wave therapy (rPWT), which disperses energy over a broader area. The choice depends on the depth and nature of the pathology being treated.
Conditions treated
- Plantar fasciitis
- Calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Patellar tendinopathy
- Trigger points and myofascial pain
- Non-healing fractures
Could this belong in your plan?
That depends on your findings, not on the therapy. Write to the International Office with a short history; it requests your records afterwards, and a physician reviews them before the video consultation and tells you whether this treatment belongs in your program.
What a session feels like
Before
Coupling gel on the skin and the applicator positioned over the target. No anesthesia.
During
A rapid tapping or pulsing that can be uncomfortable over tender spots. Tell the therapist and the intensity is adjusted.
Afterwards
You carry on with your day. Improvement builds gradually over the following weeks.
Evidence and safety
Systematic reviews support shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis, calcific tendinopathy and tennis elbow. Side effects are minor: temporary redness, swelling or bruising at the treatment site.
Show studies, risks and side effects
ESWT has robust clinical evidence. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, the American Journal of Sports Medicine, and the Journal of Orthopedic Research demonstrate efficacy for plantar fasciitis, calcific tendinopathy, and lateral epicondylitis. ESWT has received FDA clearance in the United States and CE marking in Europe. Side effects are minor and typically limited to temporary redness, swelling, or bruising at the treatment site.
Send a free inquiry
The initial inquiry is free of charge. The International Office reviews your message and your case directly and gets back to you.
- Phone
- +49 8061 398-0
- Hours
- Mon–Thu 08:00–17:00, Fri 08:00–14:00 German time (CET/CEST); in the US Mon–Thu 2–11 a.m. ET, Fri 2–8 a.m. ET.
Munich Airport (MUC), about 60 minutes by car.