SoftWave Therapy in Burnsville

How SoftWave therapy works

Healthy tissue repairs itself constantly — but tendons, ligaments, and fascia receive very little blood flow, so when they’re injured they often heal slowly, or get stuck in a low-grade, chronic state that lingers for months.

SoftWave’s unfocused acoustic shock waves interrupt that stall in two ways:

• More blood flow. The waves are thought to stimulate the growth of new microvessels (angiogenesis), bringing oxygen and nutrients to tissue that’s normally starved of circulation.
• A reactivated repair response. The mechanical energy is thought to prompt the body to recruit its own repair cells to the area, helping restart a healing process that had effectively stalled.

Because it works with your biology rather than masking symptoms, results build over a series of sessions as the tissue rebuilds — which is exactly why it tends to help the injuries that haven’t responded to rest and time alone.

What makes SoftWave different from other shockwave therapy

Not every device labeled “shockwave” is the same. Many clinics use radial pressure-wave machines, which spread their energy out near the surface of the skin. SoftWave is an electrohydraulic, unfocused shock wave — it produces a true shock wave across a broad, deeper treatment zone, so a single pass can cover an injured tendon, joint, or muscle more completely.

For patients, that usually means efficient, well-tolerated sessions with no numbing and no anesthesia — and it’s a big part of why SoftWave is used for the deeper, more stubborn soft-tissue problems that surface treatments struggle to reach.

What to expect during a session

After we confirm SoftWave is a good fit for your injury, your clinician moves the handheld applicator over the treatment area. You’ll feel a tapping or pulsing sensation as the waves work into the tissue — some tenderness over an inflamed spot is normal and expected. A typical session takes only a few minutes per area, and there’s no downtime: you can drive yourself home and return to your day right away.

Most people do a series of sessions over several weeks. Chronic tendon and fascia injuries respond best to a consistent course, and Dr. Jeff Plaster will map out a plan after evaluating your injury and reviewing your goals.

Conditions SoftWave therapy can help

SoftWave is a strong fit for stubborn, slow-healing soft-tissue and joint problems, including:

• Plantar fasciitis and chronic heel pain
• Rotator-cuff and shoulder injuries
• Knee pain from chronic tendon irritation
• Tennis and golfer’s elbow and other elbow pain
• Sprains and strains and overuse injuries that have stalled

It’s especially useful when poor circulation has slowed your recovery, or when you want a non-surgical option to try before moving on to injections or surgery.

Is SoftWave right for you?

SoftWave isn’t the right tool for every ache. It works best on chronic, mechanical soft-tissue and tendon pain — not on every source of discomfort, and not in place of a proper diagnosis. During your evaluation we confirm the diagnosis fits and screen for the handful of situations where SoftWave isn’t appropriate. If it isn’t the right fit, we’ll tell you, and point you toward the care that is.

Learn more about SoftWave

Want to dig deeper into the research and technology behind the treatment? You can read more directly from the manufacturer at softwavebenefits.com. It’s a helpful primer — and when you’re ready, Dr. Plaster can tell you whether SoftWave is a good fit for your specific injury.

Why choose Eagle Trace Spine & Sport

SoftWave is most powerful as part of a complete plan. Dr. Jeff Plaster combines it with chiropractic care, spinal decompression, and targeted rehab so you’re not just quieting symptoms — you’re rebuilding the tissue and the mechanics around it, so the result actually holds.

Ready to find out whether SoftWave can help your injury heal? Use the request form on this page and our office will reach out to get you scheduled, or contact us with any questions.