By Dr. Joseph Mejia, DO, FAAPMR
Medical Director, Performance Ortho™

When pain lingers despite rest, physical therapy, or injections, it’s easy to feel frustrated. At Performance Ortho, we’re committed to offering advanced, evidence-based solutions that not only treat pain but stimulate healing at the root source of your pain. One of the most effective technologies in our toolkit is Focused Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), a non-invasive, pain-free treatment that uses high-energy sound waves to accelerate tissue repair and regeneration by activating stem cells and growth factors.

What Is Focused Shockwave Therapy?

Focused Shockwave Therapy delivers controlled acoustic energy deep into targeted tissues. This energy scientifically and clinically is proven to stimulate stem cells, blood flow, cellular repair, and the natural healing process which helps the body recover from acute and chronic joint and muscle pain without surgery or downtime.

Unlike surface-level treatments, Shockwave is proven to penetrate 6-12 centimeters, precisely targeting deep tissue tendons and ligaments which allows for a more powerful and concentrated therapeutic effect. This makes it particularly effective for stubborn or long-standing injuries that haven’t improved with conservative care.

“Coupled with each patient’s customized treatment plan, focused shockwave therapy gives us an enhanced ability to treat pain at its source.” says Dr. Joe Mejia, Medical Director at Performance Ortho. “By combining advanced technology with a patient-specific plan, we can restore movement, reduce inflammation, and improve healing outcomes without relying solely on injections or medications.”

What Conditions Can Shockwave Treat?

Because focused shockwave therapy works by stimulating natural regeneration, it’s effective across a variety of orthopedic and soft tissue conditions. At Performance Ortho, we’ve seen strong clinical results treating pain in the following regions:

Upper and Lower Extremities

• Arthritis of the shoulder, elbow and hand
• Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow
• Rotator Cuff Tendonitis
• Biceps Tendinopathy

Lower Body and Weight-Bearing Joints

• Arthritis of the knee, hip, ankle
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Achilles Tendinopathy
• Patellar Tendonitis (“Jumper’s Knee”)
• Hip Bursitis and Tendinopathy

Spine and Chronic Pain Conditions

• Upper and Lower Back Myofascial Pain
• Scar Tissue-Related Pain
• Chronic Trigger Points or Muscle Tightness
• Spinal arthritis and stenosis

Because of its precision and depth, Shockwave can also assist in accelerating healing when coupled with Regenerative Medicine treatments including PRP and stem cell injections, making it a valuable tool in comprehensive orthopedic recovery.

How Focused Shockwave Differs from EPAT

Patients often confuse Focused Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) with EPAT (Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology), which is another popular non-invasive treatment you may have been recommended in the past. While both use acoustic energy, their delivery and depth of penetration differ significantly: In simple terms, EPAT treats from the outside in, while Focused Shockwave treats from the inside out, reaching deeper structures with pinpoint accuracy.

Benefits of Focused Shockwave Therapy

Patients who undergo ESWT at Performance Ortho often report noticeable improvement after just a few sessions. The key benefits include:

• Accelerated Tissue Healing: Stimulates collagen and cell regeneration.
• Pain Reduction: Interrupts pain signals and reduces inflammation.
• Increased Mobility: Loosens tight tissues and restores joint range of motion.
• Non-Invasive: No anesthesia, no incisions, no downtime.
• Long-Term Relief: Addresses the underlying cause of pain, not just the symptoms.

“What makes ESWT so powerful is its ability to complement our broader approach to orthopedic care,” explains Dr. Mejia. “We don’t just apply technology, we integrate it with physical therapy, regenerative medicine, and lifestyle optimization to give our patients the best chance at lasting relief.”

Performance Ortho’s Unique Approach

At Performance Ortho, we’re proud to be among New Jersey’s regional pioneers in Focused Shockwave Therapy, offering this treatment as part of a comprehensive pain management model where our surgeons, physicians and therapists work side-by-side to achieve successful outcomes for our patients. Each patient’s treatment plan is customized by our medical team to address the root cause of pain.

If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic pain and want to explore if Shockwave Therapy is a viable option for you, give us a call and book a consultation. Contact one of our four New Jersey ortho clinics in Branchburg, Somerset, Watchung, and Hillsborough. Our compassionate team and their expertise are here to help you through every step of your journey to pain relief.