Shockwave Therapy in Sanford, FL: What It Is, Who It Helps, and What to Expect

If you’ve been dealing with ongoing pain that won’t go away, you’re not alone. Many people start searching online for relief long before they ever hear the term shockwave therapy. You might be looking for help with heel pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, chronic muscle knots, or nagging tendon pain — especially if rest, stretching, massage, or chiropractic care haven’t fully resolved the issue.

At Journey Spinal Care, we offer shockwave therapy in Sanford, FL as a non-invasive treatment option for stubborn pain conditions that are slow to heal. This therapy is designed to help the body restart the healing process, reduce pain, and improve function — without injections or surgery.

Below, we’ll explain what shockwave therapy is, how it works, what conditions it helps, and what to expect if you’re considering this treatment.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy- also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) — uses targeted acoustic sound waves to stimulate healing in injured or chronically irritated tissues.

These sound waves travel through the skin and into the affected area, where they help:

• Increase blood flow to damaged tissue

• Stimulate cellular repair and regeneration

• Reduce pain signaling

• Break down scar tissue and chronic inflammation

  
  

Shockwave therapy is commonly used in sports medicine, orthopedics, and rehabilitation to treat conditions involving tendons, muscles, and connective tissue — especially when pain has become chronic.

You can also read more about shockwave therapy treatment in our Sanford office here.

Shockwave Therapy in Sanford, FL: How Does It Work?

When tissues such as tendons and ligaments are injured, they often receive limited blood supply. Over time, this can cause pain to linger or repeatedly flare up.

Shockwave therapy works by delivering controlled mechanical stimulation to the injured tissue, which helps:

• Trigger the body’s natural healing response

• Encourage new blood vessel formation

• Improve tissue elasticity and mobility

• Support long-term pain relief

  
  

At Journey Spinal Care, shockwave therapy is typically recommended after a thorough chiropractic evaluation to determine whether joint dysfunction, muscle tension, nerve irritation, or soft-tissue injury is contributing to your symptoms. This allows us to tailor care to your specific needs rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.

Conditions Shockwave Therapy Can Help

Many of the conditions listed below are commonly treated alongside other services we offer, depending on the root cause identified during your visit. In some cases, shockwave therapy is combined with chiropractic care or bodywork  for better overall results.

• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain

• Achilles tendon pain

• Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

• Shoulder pain, rotator cuff irritation, and calcific tendinitis

• Hip pain and gluteal tendinopathy

• Knee pain, including patellar tendon issues

• Chronic neck and upper back pain

• Stubborn muscle knots and trigger points, especially around the shoulder blades

• Sciatica-related muscle pain (non-disc related)

  
  

Many people searching for relief from these conditions don’t realize shockwave therapy exists, but it can be an effective option when pain has become persistent or keeps returning.

Common Symptoms People Search for Before Finding Shockwave Therapy

These symptoms are often related to underlying joint restriction, muscle imbalance, or soft-tissue irritation. Addressing these factors through chiropractic adjustments (link: Chiropractic Care page) or hands-on bodywork (link: Bodywork page) can improve how well shockwave therapy works.

You may benefit from shockwave therapy if you’re experiencing:

• Pain that has lasted weeks or months

• Pain that improves temporarily but keeps coming back

• Localized tenderness in a tendon or muscle

• Pain that worsens with activity or repetitive motion

• Tight, irritated tissue that doesn’t respond to stretching or massage

  
  

If this sounds familiar, shockwave therapy may help address the underlying tissue irritation rather than just masking symptoms.

What Does Shockwave Therapy Feel Like?

Shockwave therapy can feel intense, especially when treating areas that are very irritated, tight, or have been painful for a long time. The sensation is often described as a rapid tapping or pulsing, and the level of discomfort can vary depending on the location, severity of the condition, and individual sensitivity.

During treatment, you may experience:

• Moderate to sometimes sharp discomfort in sensitive areas

• A deep, targeted sensation similar to focused pressure

• Temporary soreness afterward, especially in chronic or highly irritated tissues

  
  

While shockwave therapy can be uncomfortable at times, treatment is always guided by your comfort level. We adjust the intensity throughout the session and communicate with you to ensure it stays within a tolerable range. Many patients find that the discomfort lessens as the tissue begins to respond and heal.

Sessions are typically short, about 5 to 10 minutes per treated area, and most patients are able to return to normal activities the same day.

How Many Shockwave Therapy Sessions Are Needed?

The number of shockwave therapy sessions needed can vary based on the type of condition, how long symptoms have been present, overall health, activity level, and daily stress placed on the area.

As a general guideline:

• Acute or newer conditions may respond well with around 4 sessions

• Chronic or long-standing conditions often require 6–8 sessions or more, depending on the tissue involved and contributing factors

  
  

That said, there is no one-size-fits-all number. Your recommended treatment plan will always be based on your evaluation, health history, and how your body responds to care.

With shockwave therapy, treatments are often planned around the body’s natural cellular healing cycle, which typically occurs over approximately 6 weeks. During this time, we actively treat the affected area, then allow a pause to let your body continue adapting and healing. This approach helps us assess progress, avoid overtreatment, and determine whether additional sessions are needed.

Throughout care, we monitor changes in pain, function, and tissue response so your plan can be adjusted as needed.

Shockwave Therapy vs. Chiropractic and Bodywork & Massage

Shockwave therapy is not a replacement for chiropractic care or bodywork — it’s often most effective when combined with both.

At Journey Spinal Care, treatment plans may include:

• Chiropractic adjustments to restore joint mobility and support nervous system function

• Bodywork & Massage sessions  to address muscle tension, trigger points, and movement patterns

• Shockwave therapy to target stubborn soft-tissue pain and slow-healing areas

  
  

This integrated approach helps us address pain from multiple angles while focusing on long-term results.

Is Shockwave Therapy Safe?

Before starting care, we review your full health history as part of your initial evaluation to make sure shockwave therapy is appropriate and safe for you.

Shockwave therapy is widely used and supported by clinical research. It is considered safe for most people when performed by trained providers.

Shockwave therapy may not be appropriate if you:

• Are pregnant

• Have a bleeding disorder

• Have certain neurological or vascular conditions

  
  

Your health history will always be reviewed to ensure this treatment is appropriate for you.

Try Shockwave Therapy at Journey Spinal Care

If chronic pain has been limiting your daily activities, shockwave therapy may be a helpful next step.

Many patients start by scheduling a chiropractic evaluation so we can determine whether shockwave therapy, bodywork, or a combination of services is the best fit for their goals.

If chronic pain has been limiting your daily activities, shockwave therapy may be a helpful next step.

You can also explore our Shockwave Therapy page to learn more about how this treatment fits into an individualized care plan.

You can book your appointment online, explore our FAQs for common questions about treatment, or contact us directly to learn more.

Book online at journeyspinalcare.com

You can also call or text us at 321-926-4565. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and help you schedule your visit.