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How Shockwave Therapy Helps In-Season Athletes Recover Quickly

Professional headshot of Dr. Javier Rios, MD, a sports medicine doctor. He is smiling warmly, wearing a white coat.

Javier Rios, MD

A provider performing shockwave therapy on the heel of a patient's foot

Shockwave Therapy is transforming sports medicine by offering athletes a faster path to recovery. This non-invasive treatment reduces pain and inflammation, helping in-season athletes return to peak performance quickly.  

By stimulating the body’s natural healing processes, Shockwave Therapy accelerates recovery from injuries like muscle strains and tendonitis.

In athletic programs of all levels, keeping in-season athletes in tip-top form is of utmost importance. An athlete’s ability to train with intensity and perform optimally in competitive environments is imperative. 

Sports-related injuries, including muscle strains, tendonitis, bone injuries, and more, can sideline in-season athletes. Keeping those recovery times to a minimum is a top priority. Shockwave Therapy is highly effective in achieving this.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy energetically triggers a cascade of biological effects at the cellular, tissue, and organ levels.

Treatment with shockwave facilitates regeneration and awakens the body’s system for healing.

Benefits include: 

  • Reduced inflammation 
  • Increased collagen synthesis 
  • Pain Reduction 
  • Increased blood flow to the injured area 
  • Aiding in the elimination of damaged tissue 

Using shockwave therapy for in-season injuries sustained during football, baseball, volleyball, tennis, or any sport, accelerates healing, treats the root cause of pain, and dramatically accelerates recovery time which is especially advantageous in treating athletes

A recent study by Adam Tenforde MD titled “Utilizing Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for in-Season Athletes” points out that shockwave therapy has been proven effective in treating numerous common athletic injuries, including heel pain related to plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, patella tendonitis, tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow, jumper’s knee, and more! 

Why Choose Shockwave Over Alternative Injection Treatments?

Shockwave vs. Steroid Shots

While steroids offer rapid relief, they can come with a plethora of potential complications, including increased risk of infection, muscle atrophy, pain, tendon rupture, bleeding and so on.

With Shockwave therapy, it allows athletes to stay active as tolerated. Most athletes can continue with training sessions while undergoing shockwave treatments. Shockwave is well tolerated in elite professional athletes and weekend warriors alike.

Shockwave vs. Orthobiologics like PRP injections 

Orthobiologics like PRP injections, are commonly used in sports medicine settings and can stimulate healing and reduce pain without toxicity within the body.

Despite this, studies reveal that weight-bearing limitations and reduced activity may be necessary post-treatment, and restrictions may last from 7 days to 6 weeks. Again, Shockwave Therapy allows for a more rapid return to sport and ongoing training with little to no restriction.

Looking to return to play quicker? 

Schedule an appointment with CLS Health Primary Care Sports Medicine Physician, Dr. Javier Rios, to see if shockwave therapy will work for your pain. 

It is non-invasive. It has an 82% success rate. It stimulates cells to make more cells.  

And it can help you return to play 40% faster.

Let your body heal itself with Shockwave Therapy.