The #1 Therapy That Outperformed Injections, Meds, and Ultrasound for Joint Pain

Mark had been chasing relief for years.

A lifelong athlete, he prided himself on staying fit well into his 50s. But persistent pain in his right hip started to wear him down. It began as stiffness after long hikes and eventually turned into a daily struggle just to get out of his car without wincing.

“I’ve done it all,” he told me at his first appointment. “PT, cortisone shots, anti-inflammatories, even tried ultrasound therapy. Everything works for a little while… and then I’m back at square one.”

This is the story I hear almost every week in my Ashland clinic. The tools we’ve been told to rely on—painkillers, injections, temporary therapies—aren’t built for long-term healing. They’re built for short-term relief. And that’s not good enough for someone who wants to stay active, avoid surgery, and trust their body again.

So I introduced Mark to something he hadn’t tried yet: radial shockwave therapy.

He looked skeptical. “You’re saying sound waves can do more than injections?”

Yes. And there’s hard science behind it.

What Is Radial Shockwave Therapy?

Radial shockwave therapy (RSWT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves—generated by compressed air—to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes. It’s a powerful alternative to surgery, injections, and medications because it does more than mask pain.

It targets the root causes of joint and soft tissue dysfunction.

Each session lasts 20-30 minutes. A handheld device delivers waves into the affected area—often the hip, knee, shoulder, or tendon insertion points. Patients feel a pulsing, percussive sensation—not painful, but definitely intense.

The goal isn’t just symptom relief. It’s regeneration.

Shockwave therapy increases blood flow, breaks up scar tissue, reduces chronic inflammation, and stimulates the release of growth factors that promote cellular repair. In the case of osteoarthritis, it can even support cartilage healing and stem cell activity—two things steroid injections can’t do.

Shockwave vs. Everything Else: What the Research Shows

In 2020, a large-scale systematic review and meta-analysis was published in Biomed Research International. Researchers analyzed data from 14 studies covering nearly every major conservative treatment for osteoarthritis and chronic joint pain: medications, PRP injections, hyaluronic acid, ultrasound therapy, corticosteroids, and exercise.

Their conclusion?

Radial shockwave therapy was statistically superior to all of them.

It provided better outcomes in both pain reduction and functional improvement. And while injections and medications may work faster in the short term, shockwave therapy continued to provide long-term relief—months after the final treatment.

Another study published in Stem Cell Research & Therapy showed that shockwave therapy stimulates mesenchymal stem cells—the body’s raw materials for repairing cartilage. These cells not only multiplied but also enhanced the quality of the cartilage in animal models. That means less joint degeneration and more stability over time.

Even compared to ultrasound therapy—once a go-to for soft tissue injuries—shockwave has shown superior results. Where ultrasound merely warms the tissue to increase circulation, shockwave delivers deep mechanical stimulation that initiates real structural change.

Why Injections Fall Short

Cortisone injections are still commonly prescribed for hip, knee, and shoulder pain—but their benefits come with limitations and risks.

In the short term, cortisone can calm inflammation. But repeated injections may actually weaken tendons and accelerate cartilage loss over time. One study published in the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine found that higher doses of intra-articular corticosteroids were associated with gross cartilage damage and chondrocyte toxicity—the very opposite of healing.

The real issue? These treatments don’t encourage the body to fix what’s broken. They simply turn off the fire alarm, while the fire keeps smoldering underneath.

A Better Path for People Like Mark

For Mark, we built an 8-week treatment plan that included:

• Weekly radial shockwave sessions (focused on his anterior hip joint line, gluteal tendons, and capsule)

• Manual hip mobilization to restore joint motion

• Strength and motor control exercises to stabilize his gait

• Nutritional support and anti-inflammatory strategies

By week three, his stiffness had dropped from an 8/10 to a 3/10. By week five, he was walking three miles every morning. By week eight, he wasn’t thinking about his hip at all.

“This is the first time I’ve felt like something actually made me better,” he told me. “Not just numb the pain, but fix it.”

He now comes in once a month for tune-ups, and he’s back to hiking in the hills with his daughter on weekends.

Who Is Radial Shockwave Therapy For?

If you’ve been living with joint pain—especially in the hip, knee, or shoulder—and you’re:

• Tired of short-term fixes

• Not ready for surgery

• Wanting a natural, drug-free approach

• Looking for a long-term solution, not a band-aid

…then you might be a good fit for our Non-Surgical Joint Program featuring radial shockwave therapy.

It’s especially effective for:

• Early to moderate osteoarthritis

• Tendon pain and inflammation

• Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (hip bursitis)

• Gluteal tendinopathy

• Postural dysfunction that causes joint overload

What to Expect

Each session is quick and requires no downtime. Most patients need 6 to 8 sessions for optimal results, and some continue with monthly maintenance after that. Results are often noticeable after just 2 to 3 visits, with continued improvement over time.

The treatment is non-invasive, FDA-cleared, and has virtually no side effects beyond mild soreness or temporary redness.

Your Next Step

If you’ve tried the pills, the shots, the exercises—and you’re still searching for relief—it might be time to try something different.

At my clinic in Ashland, we combine the most effective elements of chiropractic care, movement therapy, and regenerative technologies to help your body heal—not just cope.

You don’t have to settle for temporary fixes.
You don’t have to wait until surgery is your only option.
You can get your life back—naturally.

Book your full joint evaluation today and find out if radial shockwave therapy is right for you.

Let’s get to the root of your pain and start the healing process—together.