Shockwave therapy
Shockwave therapy in West Michigan
Looking for shockwave therapy in West Michigan? Back To Health Clinics provides shockwave therapy in Zeeland, Portage, and Muskegon using SoftWave broad-focused technology — a type of shockwave therapy that treats a wider tissue area than traditional radial devices. Every plan starts with an exam, not a sales pitch.
What shockwave therapy is
Shockwave therapy uses acoustic pressure waves delivered through the skin to stimulate the body's own repair response in injured soft tissue. There's no incision, no anesthesia, and no recovery time — you walk out and get on with your day. In the research literature it's usually called extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or ESWT, which simply means the waves are generated outside the body.
It's most often used for problems that have stalled: tendon pain, fascia pain, and chronic soft-tissue irritation that hasn't responded to rest, stretching, or conventional therapy alone. It is normally delivered as a short series of sessions alongside adjustments and loading exercise, not as a standalone miracle.
What makes SoftWave different
SoftWave is the shockwave system our doctors use. It's a broad-focused device, meaning it spreads true acoustic shock waves across a wider treatment field instead of concentrating them on a single pinpoint focal point the way a focused device does, and without the surface-limited pressure wave of a radial unit. Practically, that means we can treat a region of tissue in one pass — useful for the fascia and tendon complaints that make up most of what we see.
Important framing: SoftWave is not an alternative to shockwave therapy. It is shockwave therapy. Read the full SoftWave page.
What treatment feels like
A gel is applied and the applicator is moved over the treatment area. Most people describe a firm tapping or pulsing sensation — noticeable, occasionally intense over a tender spot, but not what patients would call painful. Your doctor adjusts intensity as you go based on your feedback. The shockwave portion of a visit is usually around 10 to 15 minutes; your first appointment runs longer because it includes your exam.
Afterward, some people feel mild soreness in the area for a day or so, similar to post-workout soreness. There's no downtime and no need to stop your normal activity unless we tell you otherwise.
Your consultation
We don't sell shockwave therapy over the phone. You come in, we take your history, examine the area, and screen for the conditions that make shockwave inappropriate (pregnancy, active infection, bleeding disorders, blood thinners, suspected fractures or tears, among others). If it's a fit, you get a specific number of sessions and a cost before anything starts. If it isn't, we say so. Insurance coverage varies by plan — see our insurance and payment FAQs.
Three technology types
Radial, broad-focused, and focused shockwave
All three are shockwave therapy. They differ in how the wave is produced, how wide it spreads, and how deep it reaches.
| Type | How the wave is made | Treatment area | Depth | How it feels | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radial | Pressure wave created by a projectile striking the applicator head | Wide at the skin, weakening quickly with depth | Superficial | Rapid mechanical tapping | Surface-level muscle and fascia work |
| Broad-focused (SoftWave) | True acoustic shock wave spread across a wide zone | Wide treatment field in a single pass | Shallow through moderate | Firm pulsing across the region | Regional soft-tissue and tendon complaints |
| Focused | True acoustic shock wave converged on a focal point | Narrow and precise | Deep | Concentrated, sometimes sharp at the focal point | Small, deep, precisely located targets |
SoftWave, the system our doctors use, is a broad-focused device — which is why you'll see it described as both "SoftWave therapy" and "shockwave therapy." They're the same treatment category.
Conditions we evaluate
What people come in asking about
Shockwave therapy is used for stubborn soft-tissue and tendon problems. Whether it's right for you depends on your exam — not on the label on your pain.
Plantar Fasciitis
Heel pain that won't quit? Learn how shockwave therapy with SoftWave is used for plantar fasciitis, who is a candidate, and how to get evaluated in Zeeland, Portage, or Muskegon.
Read more →Achilles Tendon Pain
How shockwave therapy with SoftWave is used for Achilles tendinopathy, who's an appropriate candidate, and how to schedule an evaluation in Zeeland, Portage, or Muskegon.
Read more →Knee Pain
When shockwave therapy with SoftWave is appropriate for tendon-related knee pain, who qualifies, and how to get evaluated at our Zeeland, Portage, or Muskegon clinics.
Read more →Shoulder Pain
How shockwave therapy with SoftWave fits into care for rotator cuff and shoulder tendon pain, who's a candidate, and how to book an evaluation in West Michigan.
Read more →Tennis Elbow
Shockwave therapy with SoftWave for lateral epicondylitis — what it's used for, who is an appropriate candidate, and how to get evaluated in Zeeland, Portage, or Muskegon.
Read more →Same treatment, different names
You may have heard this called something else
Patients, manufacturers, and researchers all use different words for the same family of treatment. Here's how the terms line up.
- Shockwave therapy
- The treatment category. Acoustic waves applied to injured tissue to stimulate healing.
- Shock wave (two words)
- The same thing. Both spellings show up in search and in the research literature.
- ESWT / extracorporeal shock wave therapy
- The clinical name you will see in research papers. "Extracorporeal" simply means applied from outside the body.
- Acoustic wave therapy
- A marketing term used for shockwave and related pressure-wave devices.
- SoftWave / SoftWave therapy
- A specific brand of broad-focused shockwave device. This is the technology we use.
FAQ
Shockwave and SoftWave questions, answered directly
Short answer first, detail second — the way we'd explain it in the treatment room.
Is SoftWave the same thing as shockwave therapy?
Yes. SoftWave is a brand of shockwave therapy. It is not a separate category of treatment — it is one specific type of shockwave device, and the treatment it delivers is shockwave therapy.
What type of shockwave therapy is SoftWave?
SoftWave is described by its manufacturer as broad-focused shockwave therapy. It spreads acoustic waves across a wider treatment area than many traditional radial systems rather than concentrating energy on a single narrow point.
Is SoftWave radial shockwave therapy?
No. Radial devices generate a pressure wave at the applicator surface that dissipates as it travels inward. SoftWave is a broad-focused system, so its wave pattern and depth behave differently from a radial unit.
What is broad-focused shockwave therapy?
Broad-focused shockwave therapy delivers true acoustic shock waves over a wide, shallow-to-moderate depth zone instead of a pinpoint focal point. The intent is to treat a whole region of tissue in one pass.
How is SoftWave different from traditional shockwave therapy?
The main differences are how the wave is generated and how widely it spreads. Focused devices target a small deep point, radial devices push a pressure wave from the surface, and SoftWave's broad-focused approach covers a wider treatment zone. Which one suits you depends on your diagnosis, and that is what your exam determines.
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
Most patients describe it as a firm tapping or pulsing sensation rather than pain. Tender areas can feel intense for a moment, and your doctor adjusts the intensity during the session based on your feedback. No anesthesia is used.
How long does a SoftWave session take?
The shockwave portion itself is usually brief — often around 10 to 15 minutes depending on how many areas are treated. Your first appointment is longer because it includes your history, exam, and care plan discussion.
How many SoftWave treatments do people typically receive?
Shockwave therapy is normally delivered as a short series of sessions spread over several weeks rather than a single visit. Your doctor gives you a specific number after your exam, with a clear beginning, middle, and end — not an open-ended contract.
What conditions do chiropractors use shockwave therapy for?
It is most often used for stubborn soft-tissue and tendon problems: plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendon pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, and tennis elbow. We only recommend it when your exam shows it is an appropriate fit.
Who should not receive shockwave therapy?
It is generally avoided during pregnancy, over active infections, open wounds, tumors, or growth plates in children, and for people with bleeding disorders or on blood thinners. Tell us about your full medical history and medications and we will screen you before treatment.
How much does shockwave therapy cost in West Michigan?
Cost depends on how many areas are treated and how many sessions your exam calls for, so we quote it after your evaluation instead of publishing a number that may not apply to you. Call any of our three clinics and we will walk you through the options before you commit.
Is shockwave therapy covered by insurance?
Coverage for shockwave therapy varies widely by plan and many plans treat it as a non-covered service. We verify your specific benefits before you start and offer straightforward self-pay pricing so there are no surprise bills.
Compare the options
SoftWave vs the other shockwave systems
Plain-language breakdowns of how the technologies differ, written by our doctors.
Three West Michigan clinics
Get evaluated at the clinic nearest you
Shockwave therapy always starts with an exam so we can confirm it's the right tool for your problem.
Related care
Shockwave rarely works alone
It's one tool in a plan that usually also includes adjustments, soft tissue work, and loading exercise.
Book your visit
Ready to feel better?
Pick the clinic closest to you and book online in minutes. New patients are usually seen within days, not weeks.