If you’re curious about SoftWave Therapy in Cincinnati: how it works, what it feels like, and whether it’s worth it—this Softwave Therapy FAQ is for you. Here you’ll find clear, answers from a chiropractic and regenerative care perspective from Dr. Faih, written for real patients who want the science without the jargon.
SoftWave Therapy is a non‑invasive regenerative treatment that uses electrohydraulic shockwaves to stimulate your body’s own healing processes at the cellular level. These high‑energy acoustic waves travel through a gel on the skin into painful, injured, or chronically inflamed tissue, where they trigger biological responses that help repair, remodel, and regenerate tissue.
SoftWave is a specific form of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) delivered with a patented device that produces a broad field of “true” shockwaves, rather than just surface‑level pressure waves. This broad‑focused energy allows us to treat a larger and deeper area in less time, often with fewer total sessions than older shockwave technologies.
SoftWave Therapy converts mechanical energy into biochemical signals in a process called mechanotransduction. As shockwaves pass through tissue, they create controlled mechanical stress that cells recognize as a signal to start healing and regeneration.
Research and manufacturer data show that SoftWave’s effects include: improved local blood flow (angiogenesis), modulation of inflammation, activation and recruitment of resident stem and progenitor cells, and stimulation of connective tissue repair. Over time, these changes can reduce pain, improve mobility, and support longer‑term tissue health rather than just masking symptoms.
SoftWave is FDA 510(k) cleared for specific indications such as improving blood supply, activation of connective tissue, temporary pain relief, and used for musculoskeletal and soft‑tissue conditions under provider supervision.
Common conditions treated with SoftWave Therapy include: joint and muscle pain (knee, shoulder, hip, foot, etc.), overuse injuries (plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, jumper’s knee), tendon and ligament injuries, carpal tunnel and other entrapment syndromes, chronic tendon pain around the elbow, heel, or shoulder, post‑surgical scar tissue and stiffness, neuropathic pain and certain neuropathies, and wounds.
SoftWave Therapy stands out because it targets the root of chronic pain—damaged, degenerated, or poorly healing tissue—rather than only blocking pain signals. For many people, that means both short‑term relief and longer‑term improvement in how the tissue functions and feels day to day.betterbrainandbody+4
Key benefits for chronic pain include:
- Drug‑free, non‑surgical pain relief
SoftWave uses acoustic shockwaves, not medications or injections, to reduce pain and modulate inflammation in the targeted area. That makes it an option for patients who want to avoid opioids, repeated steroid shots, or surgery—or who haven’t responded well to those approaches.englewoodortho+2 - Stimulates real tissue healing (not just numbing)
Research and manufacturer data show that SoftWave can increase local blood flow, modulate inflammatory pathways, and activate resident stem and progenitor cells in the treated tissue. Over time this supports repair, remodeling, and regeneration of tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues involved in chronic pain.softwavetrt+2 - Helps stubborn, long‑standing injuries finally move forward
Chronic problems like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, jumper’s knee, shoulder and elbow tendinopathy, and spinal‑related soft‑tissue pain often respond well when standard rest, stretching, or single‑modality therapies have plateaued. SoftWave can be layered onto your existing care plan to help “restart” stalled healing and create a window for better progress with rehab and strength work.coloradoinjurywellness+3 - Fast visits with little to no downtime
A typical SoftWave session takes about 10–15 minutes per area, and most people can return to normal daily activities immediately afterward. There is no anesthesia, no incisions, no wound care, and usually only mild, short‑lived soreness—more like a post‑workout feeling than a surgical recovery.orthopedicshoulder+2 - Can reduce reliance on pain medications and injections
By addressing the tissue itself and improving function, patients often find they need fewer anti‑inflammatory medications, muscle relaxers, or repeat injections over time. While every case is different, many clinics report improved outcome scores and decreased ongoing pain management needs when SoftWave is integrated thoughtfully into chronic pain care.englewoodortho+2 - Compatible with chiropractic, rehab, and other therapies
SoftWave is frequently combined with chiropractic care, therapeutic exercise, bracing, or other modalities to create a more comprehensive plan. In a practice like Simply Well Chiropractic, that means you are not choosing SoftWave instead of movement, strength, or alignment work—you are using it to make those other tools more effective.cincinnatisoftwavetherapy+4 - Potentially longer‑lasting results
Because SoftWave encourages structural changes in the tissue—like improved vascularity and collagen remodeling—its benefits can extend well beyond the last session for many chronic pain conditions. Patients often report that pain relief and improved mobility continue to build over several weeks after completing a series of treatments.
SoftWave Therapy is considered a safe, non‑invasive, drug‑free modality when delivered by trained providers using appropriate protocols. The technology is FDA 510(k) cleared for specific uses and is utilized by major medical centers and professional sports organizations across orthopedics, wound care, and rehabilitation.
Because SoftWave does not require incisions, anesthesia, or injections, it avoids many of the risks associated with surgery or chronic medication use. The most commonly reported side effects are mild and temporary, such as slight redness, soreness, or swelling in the treated area that typically resolve within hours to a couple of days.
Most people describe SoftWave as a tapping, pulsing sensation on the skin, which can feel more intense directly over irritated or inflamed tissue. Discomfort is usually mild to moderate and lasts only while the device is actively delivering shockwaves, typically 5–10 minutes per area.
Dr. Faith can adjust the energy level based on your feedback in real time, so you stay within a tolerable range while still getting a therapeutic dose. The goal is not to “push through” extreme pain, but to find a level that you can comfortably tolerate and that produces the desired biological response.
A SoftWave Therapy visit is relatively quick and does not require any special preparation. On the first visit, we will review your history and exame the area. We apply a thin layer of gel to help conduct the shockwaves, then gently move the applicator over the region of concern to identify “hotspots” of irritation and treat them.
You will hear clicking sounds as the device fires and feel the tapping sensation in the tissue. We will communicate with you the entire time to track where you feel the most tenderness and how it changes during the session. Most treatments take about 5–10 minutes per area, and you can walk out of the office and resume normal daily activities afterward.
The number of recommended sessions depends on your diagnosis, symptom duration, overall health, and how your body responds to the first treatment. Many musculoskeletal protocols fall in the range of 4–6 weekly treatments, with some chronic or complex conditions requiring 6–10 or more sessions for optimal results.
For the first weeks after treatment, the tissue will stimulate cellular signaling, followed by weeks of neovascularization and remodeling, with continued improvement up to 9–12 weeks after the final session. That means your best results often show up over time, even after you finish the active treatment plan.
Many patients notice a change after their very first SoftWave Therapy session, often in the form of reduced pain or easier movement that can last from a few hours to several days. Others experience more gradual improvement over several visits, especially with long‑standing or more complex issues.
Clinical experience and published data suggest that because SoftWave stimulates real tissue repair rather than simply blocking pain signals, improvements tend to build over the course of several weeks as the underlying biology catches up. It’s common to see the most meaningful change between weeks 4 and 12 of a full course of care.
SoftWave is designed to create lasting change by triggering your own healing mechanisms, including blood vessel growth and connective tissue remodeling. Unlike medications or injections that provide a temporary effect, the goal is to improve tissue quality so that pain and dysfunction are less likely to return.
Duration of benefit varies by condition, overall health, and lifestyle demands, but many clinics report that patients maintain improvements for months to years, sometimes with periodic “booster” sessions if symptoms begin to return. How long your results last will also depend on how well we address contributing factors like biomechanics, posture, or repetitive stress outside of treatment.
SoftWave has minimal side effects for most people. You may notice temporary redness, mild swelling, or soreness in the treatment area, which typically resolves within 24–48 hours. This sensation is often similar to post‑workout muscle soreness and is usually manageable without medication.
You can usually return to routine daily activities immediately after your appointment, though we may advise avoiding high‑impact exercise or heavy loading of the treated area for a day or two to allow the early healing processes to proceed undisturbed. We typically recommend avoiding anti‑inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) for a short period after treatment, since part of SoftWave’s effect involves a controlled inflammatory response.
SoftWave Therapy is engineered to stimulate healing without intentionally creating microtrauma in your tissues, which is a key way it differs from some traditional shockwave devices. Many older or different types of focused shockwave systems are designed around the idea of breaking down tissue (for example, fragmenting calcifications or deliberately “micro‑injuring” tendons) so the body will repair the area.mayoclinic+1
SoftWave’s broad‑focused, unfocused electrohydraulic shockwaves spread the energy over a wider, deeper field instead of concentrating it into a tiny focal point that can create microtears or localized tissue damage. The goal is to activate repair mechanisms—improving blood flow, modulating inflammation, and signaling resident stem and progenitor cells—rather than to break tissue down so it can scar back together.nydiscchiro+2
Because SoftWave is not designed to produce microtraumas, most people experience only mild, short‑lived reactions such as temporary soreness, tenderness, or slight redness in the treated area. In a clinic like Simply Well Chiropractic, treatment intensity is adjusted in real time based on your feedback, so you stay in a therapeutic range that supports regeneration instead of “no‑pain‑no‑gain” tissue damage.
SoftWave is often a good option for people with: chronic tendon or ligament pain that hasn’t responded to rest, physical therapy, or other conservative care; recurring plantar fasciitis, Achilles pain, or jumper’s knee; shoulder, elbow, hip, or spinal pain related to soft‑tissue dysfunction; lingering pain or stiffness after surgery.
At your first visit, we review your medical history, medications, imaging (if available), and goals to decide whether SoftWave is appropriate as a stand‑alone option or as part of an integrated plan that can also include chiropractic, exercise, or other modalities.
SoftWave is not appropriate in certain situations, including people who are pregnant, individuals with an implanted pacemaker in or near the treatment field, and patients with active cancer, especially in or near the targeted area. We also avoid treating directly over areas that have recently received a cortisone injection until an appropriate interval has passed, based on current safety recommendations.
Additional relative contraindications may include uncontrolled bleeding disorders, active infection in the treatment region, or specific surgical hardware placements that your surgeon advises against treating. A qualified provider should screen for these factors before scheduling your session.
SoftWave is generally safe in patients who are taking prescription medications and is commonly used alongside standard medical care, though your provider should always review your full medication list. After surgery, SoftWave is often used to support healing, reduce scar tissue, and improve mobility once your surgeon confirms that it’s appropriate for the stage of your recovery.
SoftWave can usually be used safely in patients with metal implants such as joint replacements, plates, or screws, because the technology does not rely on strong magnetic fields. Treatment parameters can be adjusted based on your specific hardware and location to keep therapy comfortable and safe.
Not all devices marketed as “shockwave” create the same type of energy or have the same depth of penetration. Focused shockwave devices concentrate energy into a very small focal point, while radial “shockwave” machines actually generate lower‑energy pressure waves that are strongest at the surface and are not considered true shockwaves.
SoftWave uses patented electrohydraulic technology with a parabolic reflector to produce broad‑focused true shockwaves that cover a wider and deeper therapeutic zone—reported in manufacturer materials as up to roughly 7 cm wide and 12 cm deep—without intentionally causing microtrauma to tissues. This design allows us to treat more tissue at once, often at lower discomfort levels, which can translate into efficient sessions and fewer total visits for many patients.
No—SoftWave and Sofwave are different technologies used for very different purposes. SoftWave is a regenerative medical therapy used in orthopedics, sports medicine, wound care, urology, and related fields, focusing on pain, function, and tissue healing.
Sofwave, in contrast, is a cosmetic device primarily used for skin tightening and aesthetic applications, and it is not interchangeable with SoftWave’s musculoskeletal and wound‑healing uses. If you are searching for SoftWave Therapy in Cincinnati, you are looking for the regenerative shockwave technology described in this FAQ, not a cosmetic skin treatment.
SoftWave is FDA 510(k) cleared (a form of regulatory authorization) for specific indications, including improved local blood supply, activation of connective tissue, temporary pain relief, treatment of chronic diabetic foot ulcers, and treatment of acute second‑degree burns. “Cleared” means the device has been reviewed and allowed for these uses based on substantial equivalence to previously approved therapies and supporting data.
Beyond those labeled indications, providers may incorporate SoftWave into broader clinical protocols according to their training, patient needs, and prevailing standards of care, while explaining which uses are on‑label versus off‑label.
Across the United States, SoftWave is generally a cash‑pay procedure for musculoskeletal conditions and is not routinely covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or most commercial health insurance plans.
At Simply Well Chiropractic in Cincinnati, we keep SoftWave Therapy pricing simple, transparent, and easy to budget for. We also offer a low‑risk way to “test drive” SoftWave before committing to a full plan.
- $49 Discovery Session
Your first visit includes a focused consultation, exam, and an initial SoftWave treatment so you can experience how your body responds before deciding on a full plan of care. - $165 per treatment
Standard follow‑up SoftWave sessions are $165 each. This visit includes reassessment, treatment, and any recommended home‑care guidance so you know exactly what to do between visits. - $941 package of 6 treatments
For most tendon and joint conditions, we recommend a short, focused series of visits. Our 6‑visit package is $941, giving you a discounted rate compared to paying per session while still keeping the plan time‑bound and goal‑oriented. You can always add on, as needed or buy a second package.
During your Discovery Session, we’ll walk through your goals, imaging (if you have it), and exam findings, then recommend whether a single‑visit, pay‑as‑you‑go approach or a 6‑visit package makes the most sense for your condition and budget.
After treatment, light activity such as walking and gentle mobility work is usually fine and can even support circulation and recovery. Hydrating well, eating nutrient‑dense foods, and sleeping adequately will all support the body’s regenerative processes initiated by SoftWave.
Most clinics recommend avoiding: high‑impact or strenuous exercise that loads the treated area heavily for 24–48 hours; anti‑inflammatory medications like ibuprofen, unless specifically directed by your prescribing physician; icing directly over the treated region, since SoftWave relies partly on an initial inflammatory cascade; and additional intense bodywork on the same region (deep tissue massage, aggressive manual therapy, or dry needling) immediately after the session.
SoftWave Therapy is non‑surgical and drug‑free, aiming to stimulate healing rather than simply suppress pain. Compared with steroid injections, it does not carry the same risk of tissue weakening or systemic side effects, though injections may still be appropriate in some cases under medical guidance.
Compared with surgery, SoftWave does not require anesthesia, incisions, or extended recovery time, and it can sometimes help patients postpone or avoid more invasive procedures when appropriate. Cost analyses from clinics show that, while SoftWave represents an upfront cash investment, it is often far less expensive than surgery and extended post‑operative rehab when you consider total time, risk, and downtime from work or sport.
The best way to decide is a personalized evaluation where we: review your diagnosis, imaging, and prior treatments; perform a focused physical exam; discuss your goals (for example, walking without pain, returning to sport, or avoiding surgery); and, when appropriate, perform a trial SoftWave session to see how your body responds.
If your condition and health status make you a good candidate, we’ll outline a realistic treatment plan that explains expected timelines, number of visits, and how SoftWave will be integrated with other care. If SoftWave is not likely to be helpful or safe in your case, we will discuss alternative options and referrals in the Cincinnati area.
If you are near Cincinnati, Ohio, you can receive SoftWave Therapy at Simply Well Chiropractic (CincinnatiSoftWaveTherapy.com), a chiropractic and regenerative care practice providing FDA‑cleared SoftWave Therapy for joint pain, plantar fasciitis, sports injuries, back pain, and other musculoskeletal conditions. The clinic is located at 5721 Dragon Way, Suite 101, Cincinnati, OH 45227 and can be reached at (513) 271‑1233 for scheduling and questions about whether you are a good candidate.