Plantar Fasciitis
Clinically relevant effectiveness of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized, controlled multicenter study
Gollwitzer H, Saxena A, DiDomenico LA, et al. · The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American Volume), 2015
- Shockwave type
- Focused extracorporeal shockwave (ESWT)
- Study population
- Adults with chronic plantar fasciitis unresponsive to conservative care
Plain-English findings: Focused shockwave treatment produced greater reduction in heel pain than sham treatment at 12 weeks, and the difference met the study's threshold for clinical relevance.
Limitations: Studied a specific focused device and protocol; results do not automatically transfer to every shockwave device, every heel-pain cause or every patient.
Find this study on PubMedPlantar Fasciitis
Shock wave therapy for chronic plantar fasciopathy
Rompe JD · British Medical Bulletin, 2007
- Shockwave type
- Focused and radial shockwave (review)
- Study population
- Pooled trial populations with chronic plantar heel pain
Plain-English findings: Reviewed trials suggest shockwave therapy can reduce chronic plantar heel pain, with outcomes strongly influenced by patient selection, energy level and whether local anesthesia was used.
Limitations: Narrative review of heterogeneous trials; protocols and devices varied widely, and negative trials exist alongside positive ones.
Find this study on PubMedAchilles / Tendinopathy
Shockwave therapy for chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a double-blind, randomized clinical trial of efficacy
Rasmussen S, Christensen M, Mathiesen I, Simonson O · Acta Orthopaedica, 2008
- Shockwave type
- Radial shockwave added to conventional therapy
- Study population
- Adults with chronic Achilles tendinopathy
Plain-English findings: Adding shockwave therapy to standard conservative treatment improved function scores more than standard treatment alone over the study period.
Limitations: Small sample size and short follow-up; radial device, not a focused device.
Find this study on PubMedAchilles / Tendinopathy
Eccentric loading versus eccentric loading plus shock-wave treatment for midportion chronic Achilles tendinopathy: a randomized controlled trial
Rompe JD, Furia J, Maffulli N · The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009
- Shockwave type
- Repetitive low-energy shockwave alongside loading exercise
- Study population
- Adults with midportion Achilles tendinopathy
Plain-English findings: The combination of eccentric loading exercise plus shockwave outperformed eccentric loading alone at four months.
Limitations: Supports shockwave as an addition to rehabilitation exercise, not as a stand-alone substitute for loading programs.
Find this study on PubMedShoulder Conditions
High-energy extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for treating chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: a systematic review
Bannuru RR, Flavin NE, Vaysbrot E, Harvey W, McAlindon T · Annals of Internal Medicine, 2014
- Shockwave type
- High-energy focused ESWT
- Study population
- Adults with chronic calcific rotator cuff tendinitis
Plain-English findings: High-energy shockwave was associated with improved pain and function and with resorption of calcific deposits compared with lower-energy or sham treatment.
Limitations: Applies to calcific tendinitis specifically — not to every shoulder problem. Imaging or examination is needed to know which shoulder condition is present.
Find this study on PubMedElbow Tendinopathy
Shock wave therapy for lateral elbow pain
Buchbinder R, Green SE, Youd JM, Assendelft WJJ, Barnsley L, Smidt N · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2005
- Shockwave type
- Mixed shockwave protocols
- Study population
- Adults with lateral elbow pain (tennis elbow)
Plain-English findings: This Cochrane review concluded there was 'platinum level' evidence that shockwave therapy provides little or no benefit for lateral elbow pain across the trials reviewed.
Limitations: Included older devices and protocols and is included here deliberately: the elbow evidence is mixed, and later trials report more favourable results. Elbow pain deserves an honest conversation, not a sales pitch.
Find this study on PubMedMusculoskeletal Pain
The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in common lower limb conditions: a systematic review including quantification of patient-rated pain reduction
Korakakis V, Whiteley R, Tzavara A, Malliaropoulos N · British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2018
- Shockwave type
- Focused and radial ESWT
- Study population
- Adults with common lower-limb tendinopathies and related conditions
Plain-English findings: Reported meaningful pain reduction for several lower-limb conditions, including plantar fasciitis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome, while evidence quality varied by condition.
Limitations: Evidence strength differs sharply between conditions; the review cautions against treating all lower-limb pain as equally responsive.
Find this study on PubMedHip Conditions
Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy as a treatment for greater trochanteric pain syndrome
Furia JP, Rompe JD, Maffulli N · The American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009
- Shockwave type
- Low-energy focused shockwave
- Study population
- Adults with chronic lateral hip pain (greater trochanteric pain syndrome)
Plain-English findings: Shockwave-treated patients reported greater improvement in pain and function than a control group receiving other conservative care.
Limitations: Non-randomized comparison design; lateral hip pain has several possible sources that must be distinguished on examination.
Find this study on PubMedShockwave Technology
Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for orthopedic conditions: a systematic review on studies listed in the PEDro database
Schmitz C, Császár NBM, Milz S, et al. · British Medical Bulletin, 2015
- Shockwave type
- Focused and radial ESWT across orthopedic indications
- Study population
- Randomized and controlled trials across multiple musculoskeletal conditions
Plain-English findings: Across the reviewed literature, shockwave therapy showed benefit for several orthopedic conditions with a favourable safety profile and mostly minor, temporary side effects.
Limitations: Broad review across mixed indications; benefit for one condition should not be generalized to all musculoskeletal pain.
Find this study on PubMedMusculoskeletal Pain
A systematic review of shockwave therapies in soft tissue conditions: focusing on the evidence
Speed C · British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014
- Shockwave type
- Focused and radial shockwave
- Study population
- Adults with a range of soft-tissue conditions
Plain-English findings: Concluded that evidence supports shockwave for some soft-tissue conditions — notably calcific shoulder tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis — while remaining inconsistent for others.
Limitations: Highlights variable protocols and study quality; underscores that condition-specific evidence matters more than the general category.
Find this study on PubMedShockwave Technology
The biological effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on tendon tissue
Notarnicola A, Moretti B · Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 2012
- Shockwave type
- Extracorporeal shockwave (mechanism review)
- Study population
- Laboratory and preclinical tendon studies
Plain-English findings: Reviews proposed mechanisms by which acoustic energy may influence tendon tissue, including effects on local blood supply and cellular activity.
Limitations: Largely laboratory and animal evidence. Mechanism research is not the same as proof of clinical benefit in a specific patient.
Find this study on PubMedWe cite peer-reviewed journals, systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Manufacturer materials are used only for device-specific information and are labelled as such — never presented as independent clinical research. If you spot an error, tell us and we will correct it.