Dr.'s Blog

If you’re an athlete – whether you’re competing in CrossFit, running marathons, playing recreational hockey, or just training hard in the gym – you’ve probably dealt with injuries that won’t quit.

That nagging shoulder pain that flares up every time you go overhead.

The Achilles tendinitis that keeps you limping for days after a heavy squat session.

The plantar fasciitis that makes every step feel like you’re walking on glass.

And you’ve probably tried everything to fix it:

Physical therapy. Massage. Foam rolling. Stretching. Ice baths. NSAIDs. Rest (which, let’s be honest, drives you insane). Maybe even a cortisone shot that worked for a few weeks before everything came roaring back.

Here’s the problem with all of that…

Most of those treatments are managing symptoms. They’re not addressing why the tissue broke down in the first place or helping it actually regenerate.

That’s where SoftWave therapy is different.

And honestly? It’s why I brought it into our office.

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What Is SoftWave Therapy?

SoftWave is an electrohydraulic shockwave therapy that uses unfocused acoustic waves to stimulate your body’s natural healing process at the cellular level.

It’s not massage. It’s not ultrasound. It’s not a TENS unit or some gimmicky recovery gadget.

It’s a regenerative technology backed by hundreds of peer-reviewed studies showing it can:

✓ Stimulate new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis)
✓ Activate stem cell recruitment and tissue repair pathways
✓ Reduce chronic inflammation
✓ Break down scar tissue and adhesions
✓ Improve cellular metabolism and oxygen delivery
✓ Modulate pain signaling at the nerve level

In plain English:

SoftWave gives chronically injured tissue the signal it needs to actually heal – not just feel better temporarily.

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How SoftWave Compares to Everything Else You’ve Tried

Let’s be real. If you’re an athlete, you’ve tried a lot of things.

Here’s how SoftWave stacks up against the usual suspects:

SoftWave vs. Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is great for teaching movement patterns, building strength, and improving mobility. But if the underlying tissue is degenerative – if your tendon has poor blood supply and stalled healing – all the stretching and strengthening in the world won’t fix that.

SoftWave addresses the tissue quality itself, making PT more effective because you’re rebuilding the foundation first.

SoftWave vs. Massage & Soft Tissue Work

Massage feels good. It can reduce muscle tension, improve circulation temporarily, and help you relax. But chronic tendinopathy, scar tissue, and degenerative injuries? Massage isn’t going to trigger the deep cellular repair pathways needed to actually remodel tissue.

SoftWave penetrates deeper and creates biological changes at the cellular level – not just surface-level muscle relaxation.

SoftWave vs. Cortisone Injections

Cortisone shots suppress inflammation. And yes, they can make you feel better fast. But inflammation is part of the healing process. Suppressing it long-term can actually weaken collagen, delay repair, and increase the risk of re-injury.

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SoftWave doesn’t suppress healing – it accelerates it by stimulating angiogenesis, collagen remodeling, and endogenous repair pathways.

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SoftWave vs. PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma)

PRP is a legitimate regenerative therapy. It works by concentrating growth factors from your own blood and injecting them into the injured area. The downside? It’s invasive, expensive, and results can be variable depending on preparation methods.

SoftWave is non-invasive, requires no needles, and has strong research showing similar or better outcomes for many tendon and soft tissue injuries – without the recovery time or cost of PRP.

SoftWave vs. Rest & NSAIDs

Rest can be helpful in the acute phase of an injury. But chronic injuries don’t heal with rest alone – they need active regeneration. And NSAIDs? They blunt inflammation, which sounds good until you realize you’re also blunting the healing response your body needs.

SoftWave reactivates stalled healing so rest becomes productive instead of just “not making it worse.”

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Why Athletes Need SoftWave: The Issues We See Most

In our office, we work with a lot of athletes. CrossFitters. Runners. Hockey players. Lifters. Weekend warriors who refuse to slow down.

And we see the same patterns over and over:

Chronic Achilles Tendinopathy
That thick, stiff Achilles that hurts during warm-up, feels okay mid-workout, then screams at you the next morning. This is classic degenerative tendinopathy – poor blood supply, disorganized collagen, stalled healing. SoftWave stimulates angiogenesis and collagen remodeling to actually rebuild the tendon.

Patellar Tendinitis (Jumper’s Knee)
Common in anyone doing high-volume squats, box jumps, or explosive movements. The tendon gets overloaded, develops micro-tears, and never fully heals because it’s constantly being re-aggravated. SoftWave accelerates tissue repair and helps the tendon adapt to load instead of breaking down.

Rotator Cuff Tendinosis
Overhead athletes know this one well. Chronic shoulder pain from repetitive overhead movements, poor scapular mechanics, or old injuries that never fully healed. SoftWave improves blood flow to the poorly vascularized rotator cuff tendons and stimulates regenerative pathways.

Plantar Fasciitis
That stabbing heel pain that makes the first few steps in the morning unbearable. Plantar fasciitis is often degenerative, not inflammatory – which is why anti-inflammatories don’t work long-term. SoftWave has some of the strongest research backing for plantar fasciitis, with significant pain reduction and functional improvement.

Elbow Tendinitis (Tennis/Golfer’s Elbow)
Chronic lateral or medial epicondylitis from gripping, pulling movements, or high-volume pressing. These injuries are stubborn because the tendons have poor circulation. SoftWave changes the game by improving vascular supply and tissue quality.

Hip Pain & Bursitis
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome, hip flexor tendinopathy, or bursitis from repetitive hip loading. SoftWave reduces inflammation, improves tissue glide, and addresses the underlying tendon degeneration driving the pain.

Lower Back Pain (Muscle Strains, Trigger Points, Scar Tissue)
Chronic lower back pain in athletes often involves fascial restrictions, trigger points, and old muscle strains that never fully resolved. SoftWave breaks down adhesions, improves tissue mobility, and resets pain signaling.

Scar Tissue & Adhesions
Post-surgical scar tissue or adhesions from old injuries that limit range of motion and create compensatory movement patterns. SoftWave helps remodel scar tissue into more functional, organized collagen.

Joint Mobility Issues
Stiff ankles, hips, or shoulders that limit your squat depth, overhead position, or stride length. SoftWave improves tissue extensibility and joint mechanics by addressing the soft tissue restrictions around the joint.

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How SoftWave Actually Works: The Biology Behind It

Here’s what’s happening when we run SoftWave over an injured area…

1. Mechanical Stimulation (Mechanotransduction)

The acoustic wave creates rapid compression and decompression forces that deform cell membranes and extracellular matrix. Your cells convert that physical force into biochemical signaling – activating repair pathways, growth factors, and gene expression tied to tissue regeneration.

2. Angiogenesis (New Blood Vessel Formation)

SoftWave significantly increases VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), which tells your body to build new blood vessels. More blood flow = more oxygen, nutrients, and repair cells reaching the injured tissue.

3. Stem Cell Recruitment

SoftWave doesn’t inject stem cells – it recruits your own endogenous stem cells and progenitor cells to the injured area. It makes the tissue more “biologically interesting” to your body’s repair systems.

4. Collagen Remodeling

In chronic tendon injuries, collagen becomes disorganized, weak, and type III dominant (scar-like tissue). SoftWave stimulates fibroblast activity and collagen type I synthesis, improving tissue quality and load tolerance over time.

5. Inflammation Modulation

SoftWave doesn’t suppress inflammation – it modulates it. It shifts the immune environment from a stalled chronic inflammatory state toward a pro-resolution, pro-repair pattern.

6. Pain Reduction (Neuromodulation)

SoftWave affects nociceptive signaling and reduces neurogenic inflammation. It can lower Substance P levels and reduce abnormal nerve ingrowth into degenerative tissue – resetting chronic pain cycles.

This isn’t a Band-Aid. It’s addressing the root cause and helping your body actually fix the problem.

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The SoftWave Treatment Experience: What to Expect

Sessions are about 20 minutes.

We identify the injured area, apply gel (just like ultrasound), and use the SoftWave applicator to deliver acoustic waves to the tissue.

Does it hurt?

Some people feel pressure or mild discomfort during treatment – especially over really inflamed or sensitive areas. But it’s tolerable, and most people say it feels like deep tissue work.

You might feel temporarily sore for a day or two after – that’s your body ramping up the healing response. It’s normal and usually resolves quickly.

How many sessions do you need?

Typically 6-12 sessions depending on the injury and how chronic it is. We’re working with your body’s natural healing timeline – early treatments initiate signaling and vascular changes, mid-phase treatments support tissue remodeling, and later treatments reinforce structural improvements.

This is a process, not a one-and-done fix.

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But Here’s the Thing: SoftWave Is Just One Piece

In our office, we don’t just run SoftWave and send you on your way.

We take a comprehensive approach because healing doesn’t happen in isolation.

If your spine is misaligned and your nervous system is firing poorly, tissue repair is compromised.

If you’re chronically inflamed from poor nutrition, lack of sleep, and high stress, your body can’t rebuild effectively.

If you have movement dysfunction and keep loading the injury incorrectly, no amount of SoftWave will fix that long-term.

That’s why we address:

✓ Spinal alignment and nervous system optimization – chiropractic care to remove interference and improve overall function
✓ Movement assessment and corrective exercises – so you’re loading tissue properly and not just re-injuring yourself
✓ Nutritional support and anti-inflammatory strategies – because you can’t out-treat a terrible diet
✓ Recovery protocols – sleep optimization, stress management, and lifestyle factors that support healing

SoftWave accelerates tissue repair. But when you combine it with a nervous system that’s functioning properly, movement that’s dialed in, and a body that’s actually fueled for recovery?

That’s when athletes see dramatic, lasting results.

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Special Opportunity: SoftWave at Game Day CrossFit Competition

If you’re competing at or attending Game Day in St. Louis Park this May, I’m bringing our SoftWave unit on-site for special treatment sessions.

This rarely happens – the unit is worth thousands and usually stays in the office. But I want to bring real help to my CrossFit community.

Sessions are 20 minutes, available at special competition rates.

Spots are limited (I’m competing too), so if you want one, reserve your session now:

👉 Game Day SoftWave Scheduling

Whether you’re dealing with a nagging injury, trying to optimize performance, or just want to make sure your body is functioning at its best – this is your chance to experience SoftWave in real time.

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Ready to Actually Fix the Problem?

If you’re tired of temporary fixes, managing symptoms, and dealing with injuries that keep coming back – it’s time to try something different.

SoftWave therapy addresses the root cause, accelerates your body’s natural healing process, and gets you back to doing what you love – without limitation.

For athletes in the Twin Cities area:

📍 Minnetonka Family Chiropractic
11349 Highway 7, Hopkins, MN 55305
📞 (612) 470-9210
🌐 drjustinlee.com

👉 Schedule Your SoftWave Session

Let’s get you moving better, performing better, and actually healing – not just covering up the problem.

Your body has the capacity to heal.

Sometimes it just needs the right signal.

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Dr. Justin Lee, DC
Corrective Chiropractor | SoftWave Provider
Minnetonka Family Chiropractic
Minnetonka, MN

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References

Wang CJ et al. Shock wave-enhanced neovascularization at the tendon-bone junction. J Orthop Res. 2003.

Notarnicola A et al. Extracorporeal shockwaves induce angiogenesis in musculoskeletal tissue. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2012.

Hausdorf J et al. Stimulation of bone growth factor synthesis in human tenocytes. J Orthop Res. 2008.

Chen R et al. Effects of hydrotherapy and cryotherapy on recovery from acute post-exercise induced muscle damage: network meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2024.