SoftWave Therapy

What it is

SoftWave Therapy delivers electrohydraulic shockwaves, broad unfocused acoustic pulses generated by a spark-gap mechanism, directly through the skin to injured tissue. Unlike focused shockwave devices that concentrate energy at a single point, the electrohydraulic applicator disperses energy across a wider tissue volume. This broader reach allows the clinician to treat not just the symptomatic area but the surrounding tissue that may also be contributing to pain and restricted movement. The acoustic pulses travel through fluid-rich soft tissue at roughly the speed of sound, creating brief pressure gradients that cells detect as a mechanical stimulus.

At the cellular level, those mechanical signals trigger a process called mechanotransduction, the conversion of a physical force into a biochemical response. Cells upregulate growth factors, recruit stem cells to the treatment site, and begin producing new collagen. Blood vessel formation, or angiogenesis, increases local perfusion in tissue that may have been chronically under-vascularized, which is one reason tendons and other poorly perfused structures can respond well. Inflammation is modulated rather than simply suppressed, meaning the tissue moves from a stalled chronic-inflammatory state toward an active repair phase. For conditions such as Shoulder Pain tendinopathy or chronic Hip Pain bursitis, this shift in tissue biology is the mechanism that distinguishes SoftWave from treatments that only mask symptoms.

What to expect

A typical SoftWave session at Moss Chiropractic of Inverness begins with Dr. Brett A. Moss applying ultrasound gel to the target area so the acoustic waves transmit efficiently through the skin. The handheld applicator is moved slowly across the region in a systematic pattern. Most patients describe the sensation as a series of light tapping pulses, occasionally accompanied by a brief ache when the device passes over the most reactive tissue. That localized discomfort generally diminishes within the first few minutes as the tissue accommodates. Sessions typically run between ten and fifteen minutes per region, and no anesthesia or numbing agent is needed.

After the appointment, most patients resume normal activity the same day. Some experience mild soreness in the treated area for twenty-four to forty-eight hours, which reflects the biological activation rather than tissue damage. A course of care usually involves multiple sessions spaced days apart rather than a single treatment, because tissue remodeling is a process that unfolds over weeks. Dr. Brett A. Moss typically pairs SoftWave with a chiropractic adjustment (spinal manipulation) when joint mechanics are also a contributing factor, addressing both the structural alignment and the soft-tissue environment simultaneously. For details on how these services are combined, see .

Key benefits

• SoftWave Therapy stimulates collagen synthesis and angiogenesis in chronically injured tissue, addressing the underlying biology rather than temporarily reducing pain signals.
• Because the electrohydraulic applicator is non-invasive and requires no needles or incisions, patients with conditions like Herniated Disc related radiculopathy can receive care without the risks associated with injections or surgical procedures.
• The broad unfocused waveform treats a wider tissue area per pass compared with focused devices, which can be particularly useful for diffuse soft-tissue injuries such as those seen after Car Accident / Whiplash trauma.
• Tissue repair continues progressing between sessions as the biological cascade initiated by mechanotransduction unfolds, meaning measurable improvements often accumulate over a four-to-six-week window.
• SoftWave can be integrated with corrective exercise and electrical stimulation (e-stim) in the same visit, allowing each modality to address a different component of the injury without extending appointment time significantly.
• No systemic medication is required, which makes SoftWave a viable option for patients who have contraindications to anti-inflammatory drugs or who prefer to minimize pharmaceutical intervention.

Who benefits most

Patients with tendinopathies, the degenerative changes in tendon tissue that produce chronic pain, are among the most studied populations for shockwave technology. Achilles tendinopathy, rotator cuff tendinopathy, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), and plantar fasciitis each involve poorly vascularized tissue that has stalled in a chronic inflammatory state rather than progressing to full repair. The mechanotransduction effect that SoftWave produces is particularly relevant for these tissues because it restores the biological signaling that normal vascularization would otherwise supply. Patients who have had months of conventional care with incomplete results are often the strongest candidates. ^[2]

Beyond tendinopathies, SoftWave is applied at this practice for myofascial pain, calcific deposits in soft tissue, and acute soft-tissue injuries sustained in events like motor vehicle collisions. Patients with shoulder pain stemming from calcific tendinitis, for example, may benefit because shockwave energy has been documented to promote resorption of calcium deposits. Those managing chronic hip pain from gluteal tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis are also frequent candidates. Patients who are pregnant, have active malignancy in the treatment field, or take anticoagulant medications are not appropriate candidates, and Dr. Brett A. Moss conducts a full intake assessment before recommending SoftWave as part of any care plan. ^[5]

How it connects to chiropractic

Chiropractic care addresses the neurological and mechanical components of musculoskeletal pain, specifically the joint dysfunction that alters load distribution and movement patterns in the spine and extremities. SoftWave Therapy addresses the soft-tissue and cellular components. Those two domains are not independent. A joint that moves poorly places abnormal tensile and compressive stress on the tendons and muscles that cross it, which perpetuates the tissue injury that SoftWave is designed to resolve. Correcting joint mechanics through a chiropractic adjustment while simultaneously stimulating tissue repair through SoftWave creates a clinical environment where neither approach is working against the other. Research examining multimodal musculoskeletal care has consistently found that combining structural and soft-tissue interventions produces more durable outcomes than either approach in isolation. ^[1]

Evidence from controlled trials of shockwave modalities shows that pain reduction and functional improvement are measurable outcomes across a range of soft-tissue conditions, though the magnitude of effect varies by diagnosis and chronicity. ^[7] For spinal complaints where disc pathology is a contributing factor, Dr. Brett A. Moss may combine SoftWave with as a complement to spinal decompression, which addresses intradiscal pressure while SoftWave supports the paraspinal soft tissue. This layered approach is especially relevant when a patient presents with both a structural component, such as a herniated disc, and surrounding myofascial guarding that limits recovery. ^[4] Systematic reviews of electrotherapy and physical modalities for neck pain have noted that unimodal treatments produce limited evidence of benefit for chronic presentations, which supports the rationale for combining SoftWave with adjustments and corrective exercise within a single care plan rather than deploying it as a standalone protocol. ^[3] Dr. Brett A. Moss draws on 28 years of clinical experience and his training at Life University School of Chiropractic to determine when SoftWave fits into a care plan, which patients are suitable, and how many sessions represent a reasonable trial before reassessment. For a full picture of available services, visit . If you have been managing persistent soft-tissue pain and want to know whether SoftWave is appropriate for your situation, Dr. Brett A. Moss is available for a consultation at the Inverness office.

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