Shockwave Therapy in Morgan Hill
A drug-free, non-invasive option for stubborn tendon and heel pain that hasn’t settled with rest, stretching or time.
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Five Factor Health Solutions now offers shockwave therapy at our Morgan Hill office on Butterfield Blvd., for patients from Morgan Hill, Gilroy, San Martin and South San Jose.
What shockwave therapy is
Shockwave therapy delivers rapid pulses of acoustic pressure into the painful area through a handheld applicator pressed against the skin. There are no needles, no medication and no downtime; most patients go straight back to their day.
Long-standing tendon problems are usually not an inflammation problem. The tissue has become disorganized and poorly supplied with blood, and has stopped repairing the way healthy tendon does. The pressure waves appear to increase local blood flow and stimulate the tissue’s own repair process, and they can calm pain signaling in the area. The exact mechanism is still being studied.
Why we pair it with exercise
The research on shockwave therapy is strongest when it is combined with a progressive exercise program, and it tends to work better for problems that have lasted three months or more. So every course at Five Factor comes with a home exercise plan, reviewed and progressed at each visit. And because this is a chiropractic and functional medicine practice, Dr. Diana Tole, DC also looks at the joints above and below the painful area, and at sleep, stress and nutrition, which can all slow healing.
What it’s used for
Best suited to stubborn soft-tissue pain
Shockwave therapy works best on tendons and fascia close to the surface.
Plantar fasciitis & heel pain
The most studied musculoskeletal use of shockwave therapy, and the one patients ask for by name. Research is strongest for heel pain that has lasted more than three months.
Tennis & golfer’s elbow
Outer and inner elbow tendon pain. Close to the surface, easy to target accurately, and often slow to improve with rest alone.
Achilles tendon pain
Common in runners and walkers. Shockwave therapy is paired with a progressive calf-strengthening program.
Shoulder tendon problems
Selected rotator cuff tendon problems, after an assessment of the shoulder as a whole.
A session
What to expect
- An assessment first, because shockwave therapy suits some problems and not others
- Gel applied, then the applicator worked over the painful area
- A deep tapping sensation, with intensity kept at a level you can tolerate
- Your home exercises reviewed and progressed
- No downtime: walk out and carry on with your day
- Typically three to six sessions, about a week apart
Safety
When it isn’t appropriate
Screening is part of your assessment. Shockwave therapy is generally not used during pregnancy near the abdomen or pelvis, over a known or suspected tumor, with severe clotting disorders, over open growth plates in children, over an infection, open wound or fresh fracture, or directly over a pacemaker or implanted device. Tell Dr. Diana about any blood-thinning medication, diabetes with reduced sensation, numbness in the area, or recent steroid injections.
Before you book
Shockwave therapy questions
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
It’s uncomfortable rather than painful, and only while the handpiece is moving. Most patients describe a deep tapping sensation that is strongest over the tender spot. Intensity is raised gradually and kept at a level you can tolerate; tell Dr. Diana to ease off and she will.
How many sessions will I need?
Typically three to six sessions, spaced about a week apart. Problems that have been there for months usually need the full course. If there’s no change at all by the third session, we stop and reassess rather than keep going.
Is it a substitute for exercise?
No. Research on shockwave therapy is strongest when it’s combined with a progressive exercise (loading) program, so every course here comes with a home exercise plan. The tendon still has to be asked to do work in order to rebuild.
How soon will I feel a difference?
Some patients feel easier within a few days; for others it takes three or four sessions. It’s common to feel a little sore for a day or two after a session. Tendons remodel over weeks to months, so this is not an overnight fix.
Are there side effects?
Usually mild and short-lived: temporary soreness, redness, occasionally light bruising or tingling in the area, which typically settle within a day or two.
Is this the same as shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction?
No. That is a different application with different devices and protocols, and it is not offered here. Our shockwave therapy is for tendons, fascia and the soft tissue around joints.
Find out whether shockwave therapy fits your case
An assessment first, an honest answer second, and a course of sessions only if it makes sense.
Ask About Shockwave Therapy (408) 778-6770
Five Factor Health Solutions · 18181 Butterfield Blvd. Suite 175, Morgan Hill, CA 95037