Say Goodbye to Tennis Elbow: How Focused Shockwave Therapy Can Help

If you're dealing with persistent pain on the outer part of your elbow, it could be more than just a strain—tennis elbow, or lateral epicondylitis, affects thousands of people each year, not just athletes. Repetitive use of the forearm, wrist, or hand—whether from sports, typing, painting, or lifting—can strain the tendons and lead to long-lasting pain.

While traditional treatments like rest, ice, or physical therapy can help, many patients don’t get lasting relief. That’s where Focused Shockwave Therapy (fESWT) comes in—a proven, non-invasive solution that’s helping patients heal faster and avoid surgery.

What Is Tennis Elbow?

Tennis elbow is a type of tendinopathy, where the tendons that attach to the lateral epicondyle (the bony bump outside the elbow) become irritated or degenerate due to overuse. It causes:

• Pain or burning on the outer elbow

• Weakness when gripping

• Discomfort when lifting, turning a doorknob, or shaking hands

In many cases, the condition becomes chronic because the tendon tissue fails to repair itself properly over time.

What Is Focused Shockwave Therapy?

Focused Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (fESWT) uses targeted acoustic waves that penetrate deep into damaged tissue. These waves create controlled micro-injury that stimulates healing processes—essentially “waking up” the tendon’s ability to regenerate.

Key Effects of fESWT on Tennis Elbow:

• Stimulates tendon repair: Boosts collagen production and activates healing pathways

• Improves blood supply: Encourages new blood vessel growth in poorly perfused areas

• Reduces pain: Desensitizes irritated nerves and lowers substance P

• Decreases inflammation: Downregulates inflammatory markers like TNF‑α and IL‑1β

• Breaks up scar tissue and calcification: Helps remodel chronic damage

Widely Used Worldwide—But Underutilized in the U.S.

While fESWT is still emerging in the United States, it has been a mainstay of orthopedic and sports medicine care in Europe and Asia for over two decades. In countries like Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and South Korea, focused shockwave therapy is often a first-line treatment for chronic tendinopathies and musculoskeletal pain. It’s commonly used by elite athletes, rehabilitation clinics, and even national health systems due to its safety, non-invasiveness, and strong clinical outcomes.

A Solution for Patients Who Feel Stuck

At our clinic, we specialize in treating patients who have been told that surgery isn’t an option—whether due to age, health risks, or personal preference. We also work with individuals who’ve already tried physical therapy, medications, or injections without success.

Many of our patients come to us as a last resort—after being told to “just live with it” or that “nothing more can be done.” Focused shockwave therapy offers these patients new hope by stimulating the body’s own healing processes, without the need for invasive procedures.

What the Research Says

Multiple clinical trials support the use of fESWT for chronic tennis elbow:

🔹 Rompe et al. (2004) found that more than 65% of patients experienced pain relief after fESWT, especially those who had failed conventional care.🔹 Gerdesmeyer et al. (2003) reported that shockwave therapy was significantly more effective than physical therapy for persistent lateral epicondylitis.🔹 Studies also show fESWT reduces inflammation, improves tendon structure, and promotes long-term tendon health.

What to Expect During Treatment

• Each session lasts 10–15 minutes

• Most people need 3–8

  sessions, spaced a week apart

• No injections, no incisions, no downtime

• Mild soreness may occur temporarily but is generally well tolerated

  

  Focused shockwave therapy being applied to the outer elbow—stimulating natural healing in patients with chronic tennis elbow.

  
  

Patients often start to notice improvement after the first session, with continued healing over several weeks.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’ve been told you're not a candidate for surgery, or if you're simply looking for a safe, non-invasive option to relieve elbow pain, focused shockwave therapy could be your solution. Backed by science and trusted by physicians worldwide, fESWT offers real results—without the scalpel.

References:

1. Rompe JD, et al. (2004). Low-energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy for persistent tennis elbow. JAMA, 292(11), 1374–1381.

2. Gerdesmeyer L, et al. (2003). Shock wave treatment for chronic lateral epicondylitis. Clin Orthop Relat Res, (415), 254–260.

3. Wang CJ, et al. (2002). Shock wave therapy induces neovascularization at the tendon–bone junction. J Orthop Res, 21(6), 984–989.

4. Mariotto S, et al. (2009). Molecular mechanisms of anti-inflammatory action in ESWT. Curr Med Chem, 16(19), 2366–2372.

5. Ohtori S, et al. (2001). Shock wave effects on sensory nerves in rats. Neurosci Lett, 315(1–2), 57–60.