SoftWave Therapy for Rotator Cuff Tears in Naperville, IL

You have a rotator cuff tear. The MRI confirmed it. Now you’re being told the standard sequence: physical therapy for 6–12 weeks, possibly a cortisone injection, and if that doesn’t work — surgery. You’ve already noticed PT isn’t moving things forward, the pain is getting in the way of sleep, and you’re not ready to schedule an arthroscopic repair. You want to know whether there’s something else that actually heals torn tendon tissue, not just manages symptoms while the tear sits there.

At some point, you stop asking “how do I cope with this?” and start asking “is there a treatment that can actually fix it?”

Many of the patients we see for rotator cuff tears have been told for months that surgery is their only option for real healing — and that everything non-surgical is just temporary symptom management. That framing isn’t quite right. Most patients arriving here have already completed physical therapy and discovered that improving mechanics alone doesn’t necessarily heal damaged tendon tissue. There’s a class of regenerative therapies that have been quietly producing measurable tendon healing in published research for over a decade — and unfocused electrohydraulic shockwave (the technology behind SoftWave) is one of the strongest options in that class for the right kinds of rotator cuff tears.

SoftWave therapy — specifically the authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 device — uses electrohydraulic acoustic waves to stimulate stem cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and collagen remodeling in damaged rotator cuff tendons. For the right tear types, it produces real tissue regeneration, not just pain relief. For the wrong tear types, it doesn’t — and we’ll be direct about which is which.

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic is the longest-standing SoftWave provider in Naperville. We became the first clinic in the area to offer SoftWave in August 2021 and have been refining its application for shoulder conditions ever since. Dr. Jennifer Wise is a Palmer College graduate with 26+ years of clinical experience, dual credentials as a Doctor of Chiropractic and Acupuncturist, and uses the authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 — true electrohydraulic technology, not the radial pressure-wave devices marketed under similar names. If you’ve been searching for SoftWave therapy for rotator cuff tears near me in Naperville, this guide walks through which tear types actually respond to SoftWave, which need surgical evaluation instead, what the research shows, and how to know if you’re a good candidate.

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Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic is a SoftWave shoulder treatment clinic located in Naperville, Illinois at 4931 Illinois Rte 59, Suite 121, near 111th Street. We treat patients from Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, Lisle, and the surrounding south suburbs of Chicago for rotator cuff tendinopathy, partial-thickness and small full-thickness tears, calcific tendonitis, and chronic shoulder pain that hasn’t responded to conventional care.

What makes our SoftWave program different from most clinics offering shockwave or acoustic-wave therapy is that we use the authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 device, we apply it inside a structured multi-modality protocol (the Synergy Shoulder Restore Program), and we tell you honestly which tear types are appropriate candidates and which need surgical evaluation instead. Our dual DC and Acupuncturist credential matters because the same visit can include adjusting, mobilization, dry needling, and acupuncture as adjuncts when the clinical picture calls for it.

“Extracorporeal shockwave therapy demonstrates strong evidence for rotator cuff calcific tendonitis and emerging evidence for non-calcific tendinopathy and frozen shoulder, with mechanism studies showing stimulation of mesenchymal stem cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and collagen remodeling.” — Speed C, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014. A 2023 narrative review published in Healthcare (MDPI), analyzing evidence from 3,517 studies on extracorporeal shockwave therapy, confirmed that ESWT produces clinically significant analgesic, osteogenic, and tissue-reparative effects.

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The Short Answer: Does SoftWave Heal a Torn Rotator Cuff?

Yes — for the right tear types. SoftWave is highly effective for rotator cuff tendinopathy, tendinosis, calcific tendonitis, partial-thickness tears (under 50%), and small full-thickness tears in degenerative chronic patterns. It is not appropriate as the primary treatment for medium-to-massive full-thickness tears in young active patients — those need orthopedic surgical evaluation. A typical course is 6–10 sessions over 4–8 weeks. Best results come when SoftWave is sequenced with the rest of your care, not used in isolation.

Schedule your $49 Discovery Session at Synergy →

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Quick Facts: SoftWave for Rotator Cuff Tears

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What SoftWave Actually Does for Rotator Cuff Tears

SoftWave is unfocused electrohydraulic shockwave therapy. Acoustic energy waves are generated by a controlled electrical discharge inside the device’s water-filled head, then directed through a patented parabolic reflector that distributes the waves up to 7 centimeters wide and 12 centimeters deep. Those waves trigger several distinct biological processes in damaged tendon tissue.

Mesenchymal stem cell recruitment. Acoustic energy at the tendon-bone interface and within the tendon body signals dormant stem cells to migrate to the damaged area. These cells differentiate into tenocytes, the cells responsible for tendon repair.

Angiogenesis. SoftWave triggers the formation of new microvascular blood vessels in the treatment area. This matters because rotator cuff tendons — especially in the “critical zone” of the supraspinatus — have notoriously poor blood supply, which is one of the main reasons they don’t heal well on their own.

Collagen remodeling. Damaged tendon tissue is replaced with disorganized scar tissue when it heals at all. SoftWave stimulates the cellular signaling that produces properly aligned, mechanically functional collagen — the structural protein your rotator cuff tendons are built from.

Anti-inflammatory cascade. Chronic tendinopathy involves persistent low-grade inflammation that prevents healing. SoftWave modulates inflammatory cytokines, shifting the tissue environment from chronic dysfunction back toward active repair.

This is a different mechanism than cortisone (suppresses inflammation but doesn’t heal tissue), NSAIDs (block inflammation, often blocking healing too), or PT alone (improves mechanics but doesn’t drive cellular repair). For more on the underlying biology of rotator cuff tears, see our shoulder pain treatment page.

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Why TRT OrthoGold 100 — The Authentic Device Matters

Not every “shockwave” or “acoustic wave” device on the market is the same technology. This is one of the most important things patients don’t get told before paying for treatment.

Radial pressure-wave devices generate compressed-air pulses delivered through a hammer-like applicator. They produce localized tissue stimulation but cannot generate true shockwaves — the energy stays superficial (typically 2–3 cm) and doesn’t activate stem cells the way electrohydraulic waves do. These devices typically cost $3,000–$15,000 to purchase, and the technology is fundamentally different from what the published rotator cuff research evaluates. Many clinics offering “shockwave for rotator cuff” are using radial devices.

Electrohydraulic shockwave devices — the category SoftWave’s TRT OrthoGold 100 belongs to — generate true acoustic shockwaves through controlled electrical discharge. The OrthoGold 100 specifically uses a patented parabolic reflector that produces parallel waveforms, distributing energy broadly and deeply enough to reach the rotator cuff insertion at the humeral head. The device costs approximately $75,000 new. This is the technology used by team physicians for NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL teams, and at major medical centers including Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, and Walter Reed Military Medical Center.

This distinction matters because the published research on shockwave therapy for rotator cuff tears — the Speed 2014 review, the 2023 MDPI narrative review, and the calcific tendonitis trials — was conducted using true electrohydraulic ESWT, not radial pressure-wave devices. When patients are told “shockwave doesn’t work for rotator cuff” because of a poor experience at another clinic, the question to ask is: what device was used? Radial devices not delivering rotator cuff results doesn’t mean SoftWave won’t either.

If you’re evaluating providers in Naperville, see our Shockwave vs SoftWave comparison for a full breakdown of how to tell devices apart and which questions to ask. For more on SoftWave’s general role in shoulder pain treatment, see our SoftWave for shoulder pain page.

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Which Rotator Cuff Tears Respond to SoftWave — The Tear-Type Breakdown

This is the part most clinics offering SoftWave never explain — and it’s the most important section in this article. Different rotator cuff tear types respond very differently to SoftWave. Honest framing per tier:

SoftWave works BEST for: ✅ tendinopathy / tendinosis · ✅ calcific tendonitis · ✅ partial-thickness tears (under 50%) · ✅ small chronic full-thickness tears in degenerative patterns

Surgery is usually needed for: ❌ medium-to-massive full-thickness tears · ❌ traumatic retracted tears in young active patients · ❌ tears with significant tendon retraction or muscle atrophy

The pattern: SoftWave excels at degenerative tissue change, calcific deposits, and partial structural compromise where the tendon has enough remaining substance to remodel. It doesn’t reattach a fully detached tendon. That’s surgical territory, and we’ll tell you when that’s where you should be.

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SoftWave vs Other Rotator Cuff Tear Treatments

The honest framing: SoftWave is one of several tools, and it’s the best tool for a specific subset of rotator cuff problems. We assess your tear type and pattern on the first visit and recommend SoftWave alone, SoftWave plus adjuncts, or surgical referral — based on what’s actually going to help.

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What the Research Shows

Speed C (2014) published a comprehensive review in the British Journal of Sports Medicine establishing that extracorporeal shockwave therapy produces significant clinical improvement for rotator cuff calcific tendonitis (the strongest evidence application) and emerging evidence for non-calcific tendinopathy. The review specifically identifies mesenchymal stem cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and collagen remodeling as the underlying mechanisms — the exact biological responses SoftWave’s electrohydraulic technology is designed to elicit.

A 2023 narrative review in Healthcare (MDPI) analyzed evidence from 3,517 studies on extracorporeal shockwave therapy across multiple musculoskeletal applications. The review confirmed that ESWT produces clinically significant analgesic (pain-reducing), osteogenic (bone-healing), and tissue-reparative effects, with device type, energy parameters, and treatment protocol identified as primary determinants of patient outcomes — emphasizing why authentic device selection matters.

Multiple randomized controlled trials specific to rotator cuff calcific tendonitis have shown ESWT produces significant pain reduction, improved Constant shoulder scores, and dissolution of calcium deposits when applied at appropriate energy levels.

The honest framing: the strongest evidence is for calcific tendonitis and tendinopathy. Evidence for partial-thickness tears is moderate but supportive. Evidence for full-thickness tears is mixed and depends heavily on tear size and patient demand level. We use the research to inform candidacy, not to oversell. For the broader picture of how SoftWave fits among other rotator cuff treatment options, see our best treatments for rotator cuff tears in Naperville hub.

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What to Expect at Synergy

A typical SoftWave course for a rotator cuff tear runs 6–10 sessions over 4–8 weeks at our Naperville clinic. Each session takes 10–15 minutes of actual SoftWave application, with a longer first visit for thorough exam and treatment planning.

The visit starts with a clinical reassessment: pain levels, sleep impact, range of motion, weakness patterns, and specific provocative tests for the rotator cuff. Then ultrasound gel is applied to the shoulder and the SoftWave applicator is moved across the affected tendon area, with energy concentrated at the tear site, the tendon-bone interface, and surrounding tissue. Most patients describe the sensation as rapid pulsing or tapping. Some areas — particularly directly over a calcific deposit or active tear — feel briefly intense; we adjust energy to your tolerance and continuously communicate during treatment.

Most patients begin to notice change within the first 3 to 5 sessions. Pain improvements often appear first; range-of-motion and strength improvements typically follow in weeks 3 to 6. Healing continues for several weeks after the final session, as the cellular processes SoftWave initiates take time to express in tissue change.

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SoftWave Within the Synergy Shoulder Restore Program

SoftWave isn’t used in isolation in our Naperville clinic. The Synergy Shoulder Restore Program sequences four primary modalities based on what each does best for rotator cuff tears: SoftWave for tendon regeneration, chiropractic for kinetic-chain restoration and joint mobilization, acupuncture for pain modulation and trigger point release, and MLS laser for cellular-level photobiomodulation and inflammation reduction. The same multi-modality logic applies when SoftWave is used for frozen shoulder — see our SoftWave for frozen shoulder guide for how the protocol shifts when adhesive capsulitis is the primary problem.

The integration matters because rotator cuff tears rarely exist in isolation. Most patients also have associated cervical and thoracic restrictions, scapular dyskinesis, biceps tendon involvement, or compensatory patterns that need addressing alongside the tear itself. SoftWave alone can heal the tissue; the integrated program produces durable functional recovery.

For the broader treatment landscape, see our best treatments for shoulder pain in Naperville hub. If you’re not sure whether your shoulder problem is a rotator cuff tear or something else (frozen shoulder presents very similarly), our frozen shoulder vs rotator cuff tear diagnostic guide walks through the differentiation.

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SoftWave Is Best For

• Rotator cuff tendinopathy or tendinosis (degenerative tendon change without macroscopic tear)
• Calcific tendonitis (strongest evidence application)
• Partial-thickness rotator cuff tears (especially under 50%)
• Small full-thickness tears in older, lower-demand patients (degenerative pattern)
• Patients who’ve failed PT, cortisone, or NSAIDs and want a regenerative option
• Patients trying to avoid or delay surgery while confirming whether non-surgical healing is realistic
• Pre-surgical tissue conditioning (improves outcomes when surgery is planned)
• Post-surgical adjunct (with surgeon’s clearance)

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Honest Candidacy: When SoftWave Fits and When You Should See an Orthopedic Surgeon Instead

You’re a good fit for SoftWave at our Naperville clinic if you have rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendonitis, a partial-thickness tear (any size), or a small chronic full-thickness tear in a degenerative pattern. You’ve usually tried PT, cortisone, or NSAIDs without sustained relief. You’re willing to commit to a 6–10 session course over 4–8 weeks. You want a regenerative option that addresses tissue, not just symptoms.

You may not be a good fit — and we’ll tell you on day one if so — if any of the following apply:

• Medium-to-massive full-thickness tear (over 1–3 cm) in a young active patient — orthopedic surgical evaluation should come first
• Acute traumatic tear in a surgical candidate — emergency or urgent ortho referral takes priority
• Massive irreparable tear with significant retraction — usually beyond what SoftWave can address; ortho consultation needed
• Active cancer at the treatment site — contraindicated
• Pacemaker or implanted electrical device near the treatment area — contraindicated
• Pregnancy — generally avoided in shoulder applications
• Active infection or open wound at site — postpone until resolved
• Severe coagulopathy or active anticoagulation that can’t be paused per cardiology — discussed case-by-case

If we don’t think SoftWave is right for you, we’ll tell you on day one and refer you to whoever is the right next step — including an orthopedic surgeon when that’s the answer.

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Pricing Transparency

Your first visit at Synergy Institute is our $49 Discovery Session — a complete shoulder evaluation and your first SoftWave treatment, so you can experience the therapy and we can confirm whether you’re a good candidate before committing to a full course. After that, treatment plan pricing is walked through transparently with no surprises. Per-session SoftWave pricing in the Naperville area generally runs $125–$250 for authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 technology. SoftWave is not covered by insurance; we offer affordable self-pay options. For a full breakdown of pricing, see our cost of shockwave therapy in Naperville guide.

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Why Choose Synergy for SoftWave for Rotator Cuff Tears in Naperville

• First in Naperville since August 2021. Longest continuous SoftWave experience in the area; we’ve refined application protocols over years of clinical work.
• Authentic TRT OrthoGold 100. True electrohydraulic technology, not radial pressure-wave imitator devices marketed under similar names.
• Tear-type-specific candidacy. We assess your specific tear type and pattern and tell you honestly whether SoftWave is appropriate or whether you need orthopedic evaluation instead.
• Dual credential. DC + Acupuncturist under one roof — adjusting, mobilization, dry needling, acupuncture all available alongside SoftWave when the clinical picture calls for it.
• Multi-modality integration. SoftWave sequences within the Synergy Shoulder Restore Program with chiropractic, acupuncture, and MLS laser based on your case.
• Honest assessment. If you need surgery, we’ll say so on day one and refer you appropriately.

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🚨 When to Seek Immediate Care

Skip the article and go to urgent care or the ER if you have any of: sudden complete loss of arm function after a fall or trauma, visible deformity of the shoulder, numbness or tingling extending down the arm with weakness, fever with a hot or swollen shoulder (possible joint infection), or shoulder pain accompanied by chest pain, jaw pain, or shortness of breath.

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Schedule Your $49 Discovery Session in Naperville

If you’ve been told you have a rotator cuff tear and you’re not ready for surgery — or you want to know whether non-surgical regenerative treatment is realistic for your specific tear type before you commit either way — SoftWave at Synergy may be the answer.

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic 4931 Illinois Rte 59, Suite 121 Naperville, IL 60564 (near 111th Street)

Call or text (630) 454-1300, or call our office directly at (630) 355-8022 to schedule your appointment and claim your $49 Discovery Session — a complete shoulder evaluation, your first SoftWave treatment, and an honest assessment of whether SoftWave is right for your specific rotator cuff tear.

Serving Naperville, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Aurora, Oswego, Lisle, and the surrounding south Chicago suburbs.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the best clinic in Naperville for SoftWave therapy for rotator cuff tears?

Synergy Institute Acupuncture & Chiropractic is the longest-standing SoftWave provider in Naperville — we became the first clinic in the area to offer SoftWave in August 2021 and have been refining its application for shoulder conditions ever since. Dr. Jennifer Wise is a Palmer College graduate with 26+ years of clinical experience and dual credentials as a Doctor of Chiropractic and Acupuncturist. We use the authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 device — true electrohydraulic technology, not radial pressure-wave imitators. The first visit is a $49 Discovery Session including evaluation and your first treatment.

Can SoftWave therapy actually heal a torn rotator cuff?

Yes — for the right tear types. SoftWave produces measurable tendon regeneration in rotator cuff tendinopathy, tendinosis, calcific tendonitis, partial-thickness tears, and small full-thickness tears in degenerative patterns. The mechanism is biological tissue repair — stem cell recruitment, angiogenesis, and collagen remodeling — not symptom suppression. For medium-to-massive full-thickness tears in young active patients, SoftWave alone is not appropriate; surgical evaluation should come first. We assess your specific tear type and tell you honestly which category you’re in.

What types of rotator cuff tears respond best to SoftWave?

Tendinopathy and tendinosis (degenerative tendon change without a macroscopic tear), calcific tendonitis (strongest evidence application), and partial-thickness tears under 50% are the strongest indications. Small full-thickness tears in older patients with chronic degenerative patterns often respond well. Medium-to-massive full-thickness tears in young active patients are not good candidates for SoftWave alone — surgical evaluation is the right next step. The full breakdown is in the tear-type table above.

Will SoftWave work for a full-thickness tear, or do I need surgery?

It depends on tear size, patient age and activity level, and how long the tear has been present. Small full-thickness tears (under 1 cm) in older or lower-demand patients with chronic degenerative patterns often respond well to SoftWave. Medium-to-massive tears (over 1–3 cm), especially in young active patients with traumatic mechanisms, typically need orthopedic evaluation and may require surgical repair. We’ll tell you directly which category your tear falls into and refer to ortho when that’s the right answer.

How is SoftWave different from radial shockwave or other shockwave devices?

SoftWave’s TRT OrthoGold 100 is a true electrohydraulic shockwave device — it generates acoustic waves through controlled electrical discharge inside a water-filled head, producing parallel waveforms that distribute energy 7 cm wide and 12 cm deep. Radial pressure-wave devices (often marketed as “shockwave”) use compressed air to create localized pulses that stay superficial (2–3 cm) and don’t activate stem cells the way electrohydraulic waves do. The published rotator cuff research was conducted on electrohydraulic ESWT, not radial devices. The OrthoGold 100 costs approximately $75,000 new; radial devices typically run $3,000–$15,000.

How many SoftWave sessions does a rotator cuff tear typically take?

A typical course is 6–10 sessions over 4–8 weeks. Tendinopathy and small partial tears may respond in fewer sessions; chronic calcific tendonitis or larger partial-thickness tears may require the full course. Most patients begin noticing change within the first 3 to 5 sessions. Healing continues for several weeks after the final treatment, as the cellular processes SoftWave initiates take time to express in tissue change.

Should I get SoftWave, MLS laser, acupuncture, or all three for my rotator cuff tear?

It depends on your tear type, pain pattern, and stage. SoftWave is the primary tool for tendon regeneration. MLS laser and acupuncture serve different functions — laser drives anti-inflammatory and cellular-level effects, acupuncture handles pain modulation and trigger point release. Most of our rotator cuff patients receive a combination based on what their case calls for. SoftWave alone can heal tissue; the integrated approach produces faster pain relief and more durable functional recovery.

What does SoftWave for rotator cuff cost in Naperville? Is it covered by insurance?

The first visit is our $49 Discovery Session, including evaluation and your first treatment. After that, per-session SoftWave pricing in the Naperville area generally runs $125–$250 for authentic TRT OrthoGold 100 technology. Most insurance plans classify shockwave therapy as advanced regenerative care and do not cover it. We offer affordable self-pay options and discuss treatment plan pricing transparently before any commitment. For a deeper pricing breakdown, see our cost of shockwave therapy guide.

Is SoftWave painful? What does it feel like?

Most patients describe SoftWave as rapid pulsing or tapping. Some areas — particularly directly over a calcific deposit or active tear — feel briefly intense; we adjust energy to your tolerance and continuously check in during treatment. There’s no anesthesia or numbing required, no incisions, no needles. Mild soreness for 24–48 hours after a session is common, especially early in the course, and is part of the healing response.

Can I do SoftWave instead of rotator cuff surgery?

For appropriate tear types — partial-thickness tears, tendinopathy, calcific tendonitis, small chronic full-thickness tears in degenerative patterns — yes, SoftWave is often a successful alternative to surgery. For medium-to-massive full-thickness tears in young active patients, no — surgical repair is typically the right answer, and SoftWave’s role becomes pre- and post-surgical adjunct rather than primary treatment. The honest assessment of which category you’re in is what the first visit is for.

How long do SoftWave results last?

When SoftWave succeeds in producing genuine tissue regeneration (versus just pain modulation), results are durable — months to years, depending on whether the underlying mechanical or postural factors that contributed to the tear have also been addressed. This is why we use SoftWave inside the Synergy Shoulder Restore Program rather than in isolation: addressing the kinetic chain, scapular mechanics, and movement patterns alongside tissue healing produces results that hold over time. Tendons that are healed but still subjected to the same dysfunction often re-injure.

What does a first visit at Synergy Institute look like for SoftWave evaluation?

The first visit is a $49 Discovery Session at our Naperville clinic. We start with a thorough history, then a hands-on shoulder exam: posture and scapular position, active and passive range of motion, capsular pattern testing, resisted strength testing for each rotator cuff muscle, and review of any imaging you’ve had. We screen for contraindications and assess which tear-type category your case falls into. If you’re a SoftWave candidate, we deliver your first treatment in the same visit. By the end you’ll have a clear diagnosis, an honest candidacy assessment, recommended session frequency, and transparent pricing — or a referral to ortho if that’s the right next step.

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References

1. Speed C. A systematic review of shockwave therapies in soft tissue conditions: focusing on the evidence. Br J Sports Med. 2014;48(21):1538-1542. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24662010/
2. Auersperg V, Trieb K. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy: an update. EFORT Open Rev. 2020;5(10):584-592. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33204500/
3. Surace SJ, Deitch J, Johnston RV, Buchbinder R. Shock wave therapy for rotator cuff disease with or without calcification. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020;3(3):CD008962. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32128761/
4. Ioppolo F, Tattoli M, Di Sante L, et al. Clinical improvement and resorption of calcifications in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder after shock wave therapy at 6 months follow-up: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2013;94(9):1699-1706. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23499780/
5. Bannuru RR, Flavin NE, Vaysbrot E, Harvey W, McAlindon T. High-energy extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for treating chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2014;160(8):542-549. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24779326/
6. Notarnicola A, Moretti B. The biological effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (eswt) on tendon tissue. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2012;2(1):33-37. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23738271/
7. d’Agostino MC, Craig K, Tibalt E, Respizzi S. Shock wave as biological therapeutic tool: From mechanical stimulation to recovery and healing, through mechanotransduction. Int J Surg. 2015;24(Pt B):147-153. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26537116/
8. Galasso O, Amelio E, Riccelli DA, Gasparini G. Short-term outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic non-calcific tendinopathy of the supraspinatus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012;13:86. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22672772/
9. Romeo P, d’Agostino MC, Lazzerini A, Sansone VC. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in pillar pain after carpal tunnel release: a preliminary study. Ultrasound Med Biol. 2011;37(10):1603-1608.
10. Krasny C, Enenkel M, Aigner N, Wlk M, Landsiedl F. Ultrasound-guided needling combined with shock-wave therapy for the treatment of calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2005;87(4):501-507. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15795200/

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Reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Wise, DC, Acupuncturist — May 2026

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice or replace professional evaluation. SoftWave therapy is appropriate for many but not all rotator cuff tear presentations, and individual response varies based on tear type, tissue health, and overall patient factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of your specific condition.