SoftWave Therapy: A New Approach to Pain Relief and Recovery

Dealing with stubborn pain that just won't go away? Whether you're an athlete trying to get back to your sport, dealing with an overuse injury, or simply tired of living with chronic pain, ProFormance Physical Therapy and Wellness now offers SoftWave Therapy, an advanced form of shockwave therapy designed to support the body's natural healing process.

​SoftWave can be used as part of a comprehensive physical therapy or wellness plan to help address painful tissues and get you moving again.

​What Is SoftWave Therapy?

SoftWave Therapy, also known as shockwave therapy or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is a non-invasive treatment that uses acoustic energy to target areas of painful or injured tissue.
Unlike surgery or injections, SoftWave does not require needles or medication. The treatment delivers mechanical energy into the targeted area, which may help stimulate cellular activity, support blood flow, and promote the body's natural tissue-repair processes.

At ProFormance Therapy and Wellness, SoftWave is used as part of an individualized approach to helping patients reduce pain and return to the activities they love.

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

SoftWave works through a process called mechanotransduction—essentially, using mechanical stimulation to create biological responses within the body.
The acoustic waves interact with the targeted tissue and may help:

• Stimulate cellular activity
• Support circulation and blood flow
• Modulate the body's inflammatory response
• Encourage tissue regeneration
• Reduce pain
• Improve mobility and function

The goal isn't simply to temporarily mask pain. At ProFormance, we want to identify why you're hurting and what is preventing you from moving normally, then develop a treatment plan around those findings. This fits with ProFormance's overall hands-on, individualized approach to physical therapy. 

What Does a SoftWave Treatment Feel Like?

SoftWave treatments are typically quick and performed right in the clinic.
A small amount of gel is applied to the treatment area, and the therapist uses the SoftWave applicator to deliver acoustic pulses to the targeted tissue. Treatment settings can be adjusted based on the patient's feedback and the area being treated. ProFormance reports that SoftWave treatments typically take approximately 10–15 minutes.
Because every patient and injury is different, your therapist will determine whether SoftWave is appropriate for you and how it should fit into your overall treatment plan.

What Conditions Can SoftWave Help?

SoftWave may be considered for a variety of musculoskeletal conditions and painful areas, including:

Foot & Ankle

• Plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinopathy
• Shin splints
• Foot and ankle pain

Knee

• Knee pain
• Tendon-related pain
• Overuse injuries

Shoulder & Arm

• Rotator cuff-related pain
• Shoulder pain
• Tennis and Golfer's elbow
• Wrist injuries

Back & Hip

• Back pain
• Hip pain
• Muscular pain

Other

• Chronic pain, Sports injuries, Tendinopathies, Overuse injuries, Scar tissue and adhesions
• ProFormance specifically lists many of these conditions on its SoftWave service page.

​Is Shockwave Therapy Effective?

Research on extracorporeal shockwave therapy has shown that effectiveness can vary depending on the condition being treated.
For example, a systematic review and meta-analysis found stronger evidence for improvements in pain and function in people with plantar fasciitis, while evidence for some tendinopathies—including patellar and Achilles tendinopathy—was more limited or mixed.
That's why we don't view SoftWave as a "one-size-fits-all" treatment.
Instead, our therapists evaluate your individual condition and determine whether shockwave therapy makes sense as part of your care.

SoftWave + Physical Therapy: A Comprehensive Approach

One of the biggest advantages of receiving SoftWave at a physical therapy clinic is that treatment doesn't have to stop when the device is turned off.
At ProFormance, SoftWave can be incorporated with other individualized treatments, including:

• Hands-on therapy
• Therapeutic exercise
• Mobility work
• Movement assessment
• Soft-tissue techniques
• Sports rehabilitation
• Injury prevention
• Performance training

Our goal is to help you feel better, move better, and get back to doing what you love—whether that's running, lifting, playing sports, working in the yard, or simply getting through your day without pain.
ProFormance provides individualized, hands-on physical therapy and wellness services in Huntsville and Athens, Alabama. 

Ready to Try SoftWave Therapy?

If you're dealing with persistent pain, an overuse injury, tendon pain, plantar fasciitis, or another musculoskeletal problem, SoftWave may be worth exploring.
🎉 New Patient Introductory Offer$69 for your first 30-minute SoftWave session
Call ProFormance Physical Therapy and Wellness today to schedule:
256-203-0376Don't let pain keep you from doing what you love.
Feel better. Move better. Live better.
Visit ProFormance Physical Therapy & Wellness

Call to Schedule an Appointment