SoftWave therapy
SoftWave therapy at Back To Health Clinics
SoftWave is the shockwave system our doctors use across all three West Michigan clinics. If you searched for SoftWave by name, here's exactly what it is, how it differs from other shockwave devices, and what happens at a visit.
What SoftWave is
SoftWave is a brand of shockwave therapy device. It generates true acoustic shock waves and delivers them through the skin into injured soft tissue, without incisions, needles, or anesthesia. The manufacturer describes it as broad-focused technology, which refers to how the wave is shaped once it enters the body.
If you've been comparing "SoftWave" against "shockwave therapy," it helps to know you're comparing a product to the category it belongs to. SoftWave is shockwave therapy — one specific type of it.
How broad-focused shockwave works
A focused device converges its energy on a small, deep focal point — precise, but it only treats what sits at that point. A radial device creates a pressure wave at the applicator surface that fades as it travels inward, so it stays fairly superficial. Broad-focused sits between them: real shock waves spread across a wider field at shallow-to-moderate depth, so a whole region of tissue is treated in one pass.
The mechanism being targeted is the body's own repair response — increased local blood flow and a cellular healing cascade in tissue that has stopped progressing on its own. That's why it's typically used for chronic tendon and fascia problems rather than fresh injuries.
Why our doctors chose SoftWave
Most of what walks into our clinics is regional, not pinpoint: a whole heel, the length of an Achilles, the outside of an elbow, a shoulder that hurts through a range of motion. A broad-focused field matches that pattern well, treatment is comfortable enough that patients tolerate a full series, and it layers cleanly on top of the adjustments and soft-tissue work we're already doing.
We'd rather be plain about the limits too: shockwave isn't right for every case, it's usually not covered by insurance, and it works best as part of a plan that includes your own loading exercise. Your exam decides whether we recommend it at all.
Provider credentials
Treatment is performed under the care of our licensed Doctors of Chiropractic across Zeeland, Portage, and Muskegon. You can read each doctor's background on our meet the team page, including founder Dr. Tonya Westerbeke, D.C.
What a visit is like
Three steps, no mystery
01
Exam first
History, hands-on exam, and screening for the conditions that rule shockwave out. You leave knowing whether it's appropriate for you.
02
The session
Gel, then the applicator moves over the area for roughly 10 to 15 minutes. Firm pulsing sensation, intensity adjusted to your feedback.
03
The series
A defined number of visits over several weeks, usually paired with adjustments and loading exercise. Clear beginning, middle, and end.
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
SoftWave questions, answered directly
Answer first, explanation second.
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
Ask about SoftWave at the clinic nearest you
Shockwave therapy always starts with an exam so we can confirm it's the right tool for your problem.
Book your visit
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