Shockwave Therapy in Calgary

Persistent pain can interfere with your workouts, your workday, and the activities that matter most to you. When symptoms aren’t improving as expected, shockwave therapy may offer a useful next step in your recovery.

 

Shockwave is a non-invasive treatment used for a range of musculoskeletal conditions. It delivers targeted mechanical waves to affected tissues to help reduce pain and support the body’s healing response.

 

At Uthrive in Calgary, Dr. Michael Hoiles incorporates shockwave therapy into individualized treatment plans that can include hands-on care, exercise rehabilitation, and practical activity advice. The goal is to help you move more comfortably, improve function, and return to the activities you enjoy.

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Quick Facts

• Uses mechanical pressure or sound waves—not electrical shocks.

• Used for selected persistent muscle, tendon, and other soft tissue conditions.

• Treatment can be uncomfortable; settings can be adjusted.

• An assessment helps determine whether it is appropriate.

• Exercise and activity management remain part of your recovery plan.

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What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that delivers targeted mechanical pressure or sound waves to an area of the body using a handheld applicator. These pulses stimulate responses within the tissue that may support healing and reduce pain sensitivity.

Shockwave can be a useful addition to treatment for certain persistent muscle, tendon, and other soft tissue conditions. The goal is to reduce discomfort, improve function, and help you progress toward the activities you enjoy.

At Uthrive, I use shockwave alongside appropriate hands-on treatment, exercise, and activity advice, tailoring the approach to your condition and recovery goals.

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Shockwave can help with a wide variety of conditions: 

Foot and Heel

• Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs

• Achilles tendinitis and tendinopathy

• Morton's neuroma

• Hallux rigidus (stiff big toe)

• Posterior tibial tendonitis

Knee and Lower Leg

• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee)

• Shin splints (medial tibial stress syndrome)

• Osgood-Schlatter disease

• Runner's knee / quadriceps tendinopathy

Elbow, Wrist, and Hand

• Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow)

• Medial epicondylitis (golfer's elbow)

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Trigger finger

Shoulder and Upper Body

• Rotator cuff tendinopathy and calcific tendonitis

• Frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis)

• Shoulder impingement

Hip, Back, and Muscles

• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome / hip bursitis

• Iliotibial (IT) band syndrome

• Chronic low back and neck pain

• Myofascial trigger points and muscle knots

• Piriformis syndrome

Being on this list does not mean that shockwave is the right treatment for every person with that diagnosis. Evidence and treatment protocols differ between conditions, and results are not guaranteed. It is generally considered after an appropriate trial of initial care, rather than automatically being the first treatment offered. 

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What Happens During Treatment?

We begin by assessing your symptoms and discussing your previous treatment, health history, and goals. If shockwave is appropriate, we review the expected benefits, risks, and alternatives.

Gel is applied to the skin and an applicator is placed over the treatment area. You will hear repeated pulses and may feel tapping or discomfort. Let me know how it feels so the intensity can be adjusted. The application itself is usually brief; the appointment also allows time for assessment and advice.

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What Benefits Can I Expect?

The aim is to reduce pain and improve your ability to manage activities such as walking, exercise, or work. Some people improve, while others notice little benefit. Improvement may develop over several weeks rather than immediately.

We will look beyond how the area feels immediately after treatment. Depending on your goals, progress might mean more comfortable morning steps, improved walking tolerance, or being able to increase exercise gradually.

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How Does Shockwave Fit Into My Recovery?

My approach combines treatment with a practical plan for returning to the activities you enjoy. Depending on your assessment, this may include:

• Progressive strengthening suited to your current capacity.

• Adjustments to exercise, work, or daily activity.

• Mobility exercises where relevant.

• Review of footwear or other contributing factors.

• Progress checks to decide whether the plan needs to change.

Shockwave is one possible part of that plan. If progress is limited, we reassess rather than simply continuing the same treatment indefinitely.

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Are There Side Effects or Reasons to Avoid Shockwave?

Temporary soreness, redness, bruising, or swelling can occur. There is also a rare risk of more significant soft tissue injury, including tendon or plantar fascia rupture. 

Shockwave should be avoided with the following: 

• Pregnancy: Must not be used over a pregnant uterus or aimed at a fetus.

• Malignant Tumors: Contraindicated directly over cancerous tissues or active tumors in the treatment zone. 

• Active Infections or Open Wounds: Cannot be applied to infected skin, bones, joints, or open/unhealed wounds.

• Severe Bleeding or Clotting Disorders: Unsuitable for individuals with hemophilia or severe coagulopathy due to the risk of deep tissue bleeding. 

• Implanted Cardiac Devices: Avoided in patients with pacemakers or internal defibrillators unless specifically cleared and monitored, due to potential electrical interference. 

• Sensitive Anatomical Structures: High-energy focused waves must avoid the brain, eyes, spinal cord, lungs, and major blood vessels. 

• Children and Teenagers: Growth plates (epiphyses) in young skeletons must be avoided.

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Common Questions

How many sessions will I need?

A short course is often used, with sessions spaced apart. The number and timing should reflect your condition, the treatment protocol, and your response. We will discuss the proposed course and when to review progress before starting. An initial course of 3–6 sessions is common, with progress reviewed to determine whether further treatment is appropriate.

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How quickly will I notice a difference?

Some people notice an early immediate improvement; others improve gradually over subsequent weeks. Full benefit, when it occurs, may take several months. Short-term pain relief does not necessarily mean the tissue is ready for unrestricted activity. 

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Can I still exercise?

Your activity plan will be individualized. Normal daily activities may be possible, but strenuous or high-impact loading of the treated area may need to be reduced temporarily. We will discuss what to continue, modify, or pause after each session. 

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Do I still need rehabilitation exercises?

Exercise and activity modification remain important parts of the plan we discuss. The aim is to build your ability to tolerate the activities you want to return to, while monitoring symptoms and progress.

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What if shockwave is not right for me?

We can discuss other options based on your assessment, including exercise-based rehabilitation, activity changes, other appropriate treatment, or referral when further investigation is needed.

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