Flexline Physical Therapy

What StemWave is, and what to expect in the room

A quick guide before your session — how the technology works, what the treatment actually looks like, and what to do afterward.

Non-invasiveNo needles, no incisions

~30 minutesIn and out same visit

Same dayReturn to normal activity

The technology

What is StemWave?

StemWave delivers focused acoustic (sound) waves through the skin into the injured or painful tissue underneath. It's the same broad family of technology used for years to break up kidney stones — tuned here to work on tendons, joints, and soft tissue instead.

Rather than masking pain, the goal is to trigger your body's own repair process in an area that's stalled out — old tendon injuries, chronic stiffness, or soft tissue that hasn't been healing on its own.

Increases blood flow to the treated area, bringing more oxygen and nutrients to support repair.
Reduces local inflammation that can keep an injury stuck in a chronic state.
Breaks up scar tissue and calcification that has built up around the injury.
Stimulates cellular repair activity in the treated tissue, supporting the body's own healing response.

Commonly used for

Shoulder pain / rotator cuff
Plantar fasciitis
Tennis & golfer's elbow
Knee pain
Chronic back tightness
Stubborn tendon injuries

In the room

What the procedure looks like

Here's the walkthrough, start to finish, for a typical session.

Quick check-in on the area

Before we start, we confirm the exact spot we're targeting and check in on how things have felt since your last visit.

Gel is applied to the area

A conductive gel goes on the skin over the treatment site — this is what lets the acoustic waves transmit cleanly into the tissue.

The device is passed over the area

A handheld applicator delivers pulses directly into the tissue. You'll feel pressure and a tapping sensation — some spots are more tender than others, but it should stay tolerable throughout. Speak up any time if it needs to be adjusted.

Roughly 10–20 minutes of active treatment

Gel is wiped off, you're done

No recovery room, no downtime. You'll walk out and go straight back to your day.

30–45 minutes total visit

Easy on the area for 48 hours

Normal daily activity is fine right away. We just ask that you hold off on anything strenuous involving that area for about 48 hours so the tissue can respond to the treatment.

Good to know

Common questions

There's usually some pressure and mild discomfort while the device is on a tender spot, but it's not sharp or unbearable — and it stops the moment treatment ends. Tell your clinician if any spot feels like too much; the intensity can be adjusted.

That depends on how your specific injury responds — some people notice a difference after one session, but a short series is typical for lasting results. We'll talk through what makes sense for your case as you go.

Go about your normal day — there's no restriction on walking, working, or regular activity. Just avoid anything strenuous or high-load on the treated area for about 48 hours.

Yes — the device is FDA-cleared. As with any treatment, tell us about any relevant medical history so we can confirm it's the right fit for you.

Questions before your visit?

Reach out any time — happy to walk through anything above in more detail.

Call Flexline PT →