What Practitioners Should Know Before Adding Shockwave Therapy

“I went from not being able to swing to pretty much a twenty minute treatment. And I went to the golf course and was just banging balls on the range for a couple hours with no problems at all.”Professional golfer Jake Peacock was days away from a major amateur tournament in Miami when back pain nearly kept him from competing.He was struggling to swing a club, and the thought of playing six consecutive rounds seemed almost impossible.Then a longtime family friend, Eric Brown, introduced him to SoftWave shockwave therapy.Jake says his first treatment made an immediate difference. He went from struggling to swing to spending hours practicing at the driving range that same day.That experience changed how he thought about taking care of his body as an athlete.Now 23 and two years into his professional golf career, Jake has already achieved a major milestone: qualifying for the U.S. Open.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Jake joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about his journey from junior golf to competing professionally, the physical demands of the sport, and why both physical readiness and mental preparation have become essential parts of his routine.In this episode, you'll learn:How Jake's first experience with SoftWave shockwave therapy changed his perspective on managing back pain.Why physical discomfort can affect a golfer's swing mechanics, confidence, and ability to compete.How Jake incorporates shockwave therapy into his broader approach to physical readiness and ongoing care.What it took to qualify for the U.S. Open, including the pressure of qualifying rounds and competing alongside elite golfers.How working with mental performance coach Phil Shomo helped Jake overcome perfectionism, improve his pre-shot routine, and focus on the process instead of the outcome.One of the most interesting parts of Jake's story goes beyond his physical challenges.Earlier in his golf career, perfectionism and difficulty committing to shots made the game mentally exhausting. Working with a mental coach helped him develop a more consistent routine and approach competition with a different mindset.Today, Jake sees both physical preparation and mental discipline as important to his development as a professional golfer.His experience with shockwave therapy is one part of that larger picture, alongside coaching, practice, and the work required to compete at a high level.Hear how Jake is navigating the demands of professional golf, what he learned from competing at the U.S. Open, and why staying physically and mentally prepared matters for the career he's building.

“There’s one shockwave company I would never trust.”A shockwave device can come with impressive claims: deep penetration, broad-focused technology, regenerative applications, and clinical results. But what happens when you start checking those claims against the FDA record and the manufacturer’s own specifications?In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Thomas Helfrich takes a closer look at the discrepancies he says he found between the company’s marketing, FDA registration, manufacturer specifications, and available clinical evidence.More importantly, he shows you how to investigate these claims yourself. From understanding the difference between FDA registered and FDA cleared to finding device classifications and asking for independent clinical research, this episode is about knowing what to look for before you buy a device or begin treatment.The difference between an FDA-registered and FDA-cleared medical device, and why that distinction matters when evaluating shockwave therapy.How to verify a shockwave therapy device's FDA status rather than relying solely on a manufacturer's or sales representative's claims.Why treatment depth, focused vs. broad-focused shockwave technology, and manufacturer specifications matter when comparing devices.How device-specific clinical research and independent evidence can help patients and providers evaluate shockwave therapy claims.The questions healthcare providers and patients should ask before purchasing a shockwave device or starting shockwave therapy.You don’t have to be an FDA expert or spend hours digging through research to ask better questions. This episode gives you a starting point for checking the claims yourself, understanding what the paperwork actually says, and making a more informed decision about the shockwave technology you choose.Links:FDA 890.5660Code of Federal RegulationsTemporary Relief of Minor Muscle Aches and PainsPress Release with Inceler MedikalInceler Medikal 1, 2Broad and 12 cm 1, 2, 3

“She was just dragging her leg.”That's how Dr. Brittin Beaulieu describes one patient who came into his chiropractic practice with significant hip pain, numbness, and difficulty moving.He identified piriformis syndrome as a possible source of her symptoms, involving irritation of the sciatic nerve. After four or five shockwave therapy sessions alongside chiropractic manipulation, Brittin says her numbness went away and she was able to walk better.For him, it was one of those patient experiences that stayed with him.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Brittin joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about his experience incorporating shockwave therapy into his Tampa chiropractic practice, what he's observed with patients dealing with pain and limited mobility, and why he believes combining different approaches can make a difference.In this episode, you'll learn:How Brittin used shockwave therapy alongside chiropractic manipulation for a patient experiencing hip pain, numbness, and difficulty walking.Why he incorporated shockwave therapy into his practice after researching the technology and hearing patient experiences.How he uses multiple treatment approaches when working with patients recovering from injuries.What practitioners should consider when evaluating shockwave therapy devices, including technology, maintenance, replacement parts, and customer support.Why Brittin believes patient expectations, individualized care, and realistic treatment timelines matter when introducing new therapies.Brittin also makes an important point about patient care: there's no guaranteed number of treatments that will work for everyone.Some patients may notice changes sooner than others, and the right approach depends on the individual.For the woman who came in struggling to move her leg, Brittin reports that the combination of treatments helped her regain mobility.And for him, seeing a patient walk better after struggling with everyday movement is a meaningful result.Hear Brittin's experience and what he's learned about bringing shockwave therapy into everyday chiropractic care.

“I couldn't really buy into it as a provider and as a patient. I'd had some really bad experiences.”Dr. Jonathan Smith had been watching shockwave therapy for years. But his own experiences with it gave him a good reason to stay away.During one course of treatment for his lower back, Jonathan says increasing the intensity caused significant pain during and after treatment. He eventually needed localized SI joint injections so he could walk normally. Later, he tried another shockwave treatment on his elbow and said his arm throbbed for the rest of the weekend.As a patient, he didn’t want to go through that again.As a chiropractor, he certainly didn’t want to introduce that experience to his patients.So what made him reconsider?In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Jonathan joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about what went wrong, why he eventually added shockwave therapy to his clinic, and what he has learned since.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Jonathan’s first experiences with shockwave therapy made him hesitant to bring it into his practice.Why he questions the idea that more intensity or more pain automatically means a better treatment.How differences between radial, focused, and broad-focused technologies influenced the way he began looking at shockwave.Why Jonathan believes treatment should be adapted to the individual patient rather than blindly following intensity-based protocols.What practitioners should consider when evaluating a device, including patient experience, clinical results, evidence, community, and the needs of their practice.Jonathan eventually brought shockwave into his clinic after a nationally ranked triathlete asked for access to the treatment. Five weeks into using the technology, he was still learning, testing his approach, and evaluating where it fit. His early conclusion was deliberately qualified:“Shockwave so far seems to be a winner in the clinic if done right.”That “if done right” is the important part.Jonathan’s experience is a reminder that the name on the technology is only the beginning. How it’s selected, how it’s used, and how well the practitioner listens to the person on the table can shape the entire experience.

“Buy equipment that you really need. Give yourself some time to cool off. Make sure you're making the right decision.”A new device can be exciting. But excitement isn’t a good enough reason to sign a financing agreement.Doug Vigliano knows this from both sides. He’s Chief Growth Officer at LeasePoint Funding Group, where he works in medical equipment financing. He and his wife also recently opened a clinic, putting him on the other side of the transaction as a buyer.And they learned an expensive lesson. After putting significant cash into their buildout and equipment, they found themselves opening the doors with less cash available for operating expenses than they would have liked. Looking back, Doug says he would have used equipment financing more strategically to preserve cash.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Doug joins Thomas Helfrich to break down what practitioners should understand before financing shockwave therapy equipment or another major purchase for their practice.In this episode, you’ll learn:When financing equipment instead of paying cash may make sense for a practice.What lenders consider beyond your personal credit score, including time in business, cash flow, credentials, and cash reserves.How deferred-payment programs work and what practitioners should understand before signing.Why early payoff and prepayment terms deserve a closer look in equipment financing agreements.What to do when the equipment salesperson and financing company appear to be giving you different information.One of Doug’s biggest pieces of advice is simple: talk directly to the lender.Understand the contract. Ask what happens if you want to pay the equipment off early. Read the fine print. And if an equipment salesperson doesn’t want you speaking directly with the financing company, Doug says that should raise a red flag.Learn more about Doug and LeasePoint at https://www.leasepoint.com/.

“The brain knows what our senses tell it.”What does that have to do with shockwave therapy?For Dr. Alexander Frank, quite a bit.Alexander is a chiropractic physician and board-certified chiropractic neurologist whose work focuses on how the brain processes sensory information and coordinates with the rest of the body. In his practice, he has incorporated SoftWave into that broader neurological approach.His perspective raises an interesting question: Could there be more happening with shockwave therapy than treating the tissue itself?In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Alexander joins Thomas Helfrich to explore sensory input, neurological function, timing and coordination within the body, and what he has observed clinically when incorporating shockwave therapy into patient care.They also get into something Alexander considers essential: choosing the right tool for the right problem.In this episode, you’ll learn:How Alexander approaches the connection between the brain, sensory input, and the body.Why he believes shockwave therapy may have implications beyond the tissue being treated.How his background in chiropractic neurology influences where and how he applies shockwave therapy.Why understanding the differences between radial pressure wave and shockwave technologies matters when treating different depths and types of tissue.Why Alexander considers clinical research, expected outcomes, and practitioner expertise essential when evaluating a technology.One example captures his approach well: a patient may walk into his office complaining of neck pain, yet Alexander may evaluate or treat the ankle based on what he believes is contributing to the problem.So, can shockwave therapy influence more than the tissue being treated?Alexander shares what he has observed in practice, how he thinks about that possibility, and why the relationship between the brain and body is an area he believes deserves a closer look.

“That's literally all we're doing, is trying to recover, trying to be able to do the next thing, trying to be able to go back to work.”For a stunt performer, an injury can affect a lot more than your body.Nicole Reddinger spent 20 years working in film as an actress and stuntwoman. In that world, staying physically ready is part of the job, and downtime can mean missing the next opportunity.Nicole says performers often push through injuries while they’re on a production. Between jobs, they may even try to keep an injury quiet because they don’t want the last thing someone remembers about them to be that they were hurt.So when Nicole sits down at The National knowing almost nothing about shockwave therapy, she immediately sees the potential from a performer’s perspective.Could this be another way to help people get back to doing what their work demands?In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Nicole talks with Liz Keener about how shockwave therapy works, what happens during treatment, and why the technology caught her attention.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why injuries and downtime carry such high stakes for stunt performers.How being sidelined can affect both a current production and a performer’s future opportunities.What Nicole wanted to know when she encountered shockwave therapy for the first time.How Liz explains the basic science behind shockwave therapy and the body’s healing response.Why the idea of a short, non-invasive treatment stood out to someone used to fitting care around a demanding work schedule.For Nicole, the conversation comes back to something performers understand well: your body has to be ready when the next job comes.And when it isn’t, finding a way forward matters.

“It's not all the new shiny thing or the next best thing.”After 34 years in chiropractic, Dr. Douglas Kane has seen plenty of new technologies come and go. Every year, he returns to conferences like The National to see what’s changing in the profession. But something being new isn’t enough to earn a place in his practice.It needs staying power. It needs evidence. And it needs to be something he’s comfortable putting behind a reputation that took more than three decades to build. That’s the standard Douglas brought to shockwave therapy.Before adopting the technology, he looked at the research, FDA clearance, third-party evidence, and what other doctors he trusted were seeing in their own practices. For Douglas, those things mattered because his patients trust him to make that decision before they ever get on the treatment table.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Douglas joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about how new technology earns his trust, what he’s seen since bringing shockwave into his practice, and why protecting patient confidence remains part of every decision he makes.In this episode, you'll learn:What Douglas looks for before bringing new technology into a 34-year chiropractic practice.Why research, FDA clearance, and third-party evidence were important when he evaluated shockwave therapy.How seeing other trusted providers use the technology helped lead Douglas to investigate it himself.How Douglas says shockwave therapy helped with his own shoulder problems and his ability to continue the physical demands of practicing chiropractic.What happened with a neuropathy patient who told Douglas, “This is the first thing I've been able to feel in my feet for twenty years.”Thirty-four years of trust can’t be replaced by a good sales pitch.For Douglas, a new technology has to earn its place in the practice. And when patients are trusting him with their care, he wants the evidence behind that decision to be there too.

“If you look at our patient visits, it's probably down. If you look at our overall income, it's probably up.”Fewer patient visits usually sounds like bad news for a practice.For Dr. Ryan Graham, it’s been a different story.After 30 years in chiropractic, Ryan says adding shockwave therapy has changed some of the patterns he was used to seeing in his rural Alabama practice. Patients who once expected to come in two or three times a week for four to six weeks may need fewer visits.His patient volume may be down as a result. But according to Ryan, overall income is up.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Ryan joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about what happens when the business model starts changing alongside patient care, and why getting patients better faster doesn’t necessarily have to work against the health of the practice.In this episode, you'll learn:How adding shockwave therapy has affected patient visit frequency in Ryan’s practice.Why Ryan says fewer visits have not meant less revenue for his clinic.What he has observed with patients who previously expected four to six weeks of traditional care.Why Ryan was initially skeptical about using shockwave therapy for neuropathy, and what he says changed his mind.How patient outcomes, trust, and practice economics can work together rather than compete.For Ryan, the goal is helping patients get back to what they want to do, while building a practice that can continue delivering that care.Fewer visits. Better business. And, most importantly, patients getting back to their lives.Chapters:00:00 Fewer Visits, Better Business00:14 Meet Ryan Graham01:36 30 Years of Chiropractic in Rural Alabama02:04 Why They're Referring Fewer Patients Out02:21 How Ryan Discovered Shockwave04:11 Why He Chose SoftWave04:58 What Matters When Evaluating a Device05:21 Skeptical About Neuropathy—Until He Saw the Results06:21 Getting Patients Better ‘Too Quick’07:04 Fewer Patient Visits, Higher Income07:54 Why Reputation Matters in a Small Community09:37 Can SoftWave Be Used Proactively?11:20 Be Proactive With Your Health11:31 Closing

“Everyone thinks of aging meaning you have to have decline, that you’re gonna have to limit things.”Dr. Laura McChesney sees it differently.Her goal is to help people move well, stay active, and keep doing the things they enjoy as they age because quality of life is everything.That same philosophy led her to explore shockwave therapy as another non-surgical, drug-free option for her patients.But after 15 years in practice, Laura wasn’t going to bring in a new device just because the marketing sounded good.She tried the treatment herself, then looked into FDA clearances, research, track record, real-world use, and the technology behind the device.In this episode of the Shockwave Tissue Regeneration Therapy Podcast, Laura joins Thomas Helfrich to talk about aging well, natural healing, and why the differences between shockwave devices matter.In this episode, you'll learn:Why aging doesn’t automatically have to mean doing less.How Laura’s focus on natural, drug-free care led her to shockwave therapy.What she looked for before bringing a device into her practice.Why FDA clearances, research, and real-world use mattered in her decision.Why the differences between shockwave technologies matter for both providers and patients.For Laura, it comes back to helping people maintain their quality of life.And when new technology becomes part of that care, doing the research matters.