What StemWave is
StemWave is an FDA-listed acoustic wave device. A handheld applicator delivers short, focused pressure waves through the skin into the tissue that hurts. The waves create a brief, controlled stress in the tissue that increases local blood flow, reduces the sensitivity of pain-carrying nerve fibers and prompts the body's normal repair processes. Shockwave therapy of this kind has been used for decades for plantar fasciitis and tendon problems; StemWave is a newer, lower-intensity form designed for use in a clinic room.
There are no needles and no drugs. We use it on-label for musculoskeletal pain, and we describe it as what it is: a mechanical therapy that helps many patients and does not help everyone.
Conditions we treat with it:
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain, where the evidence for shockwave is strongest.
- Tendon pain: Achilles, patellar, tennis and golfer's elbow, rotator cuff.
- Soft tissue pain around the knee and shoulder.
- Muscular back and neck pain and trigger points, for patients who prefer not to have injections.
How the sessions work
- Mapping the pain. The doctor or medical assistant moves the applicator over the area and you report where it is most tender. That feedback guides where the treatment concentrates.
- The treatment. Gel is applied and the applicator delivers the waves. Sessions last 5 to 15 minutes depending on how many areas are treated. It feels like firm, rapid tapping; tender spots are briefly uncomfortable, then ease.
- The course. One or two sessions a week, for a course of 8 to 12 sessions over 4 to 8 weeks. Some patients notice a change after two or three sessions; for others improvement builds through the course and for a few weeks afterward.
- Alongside other care. StemWave can run alongside medication, stretching and, where appropriate, injections at a different site.
Does insurance cover it? No. StemWave is a self-pay service and is not covered by Medicare, Medicare Advantage or commercial insurance. We do not bill it to your plan. Health savings and flexible spending accounts can usually be used. The front desk gives you the cost of a course in writing before you commit to anything. New patients can try a $49 introductory session at Davie to see how it feels before deciding on a course. Read more about insurance and self-pay.
What to expect
- Before your first visit, book online and tell us where it hurts and what you have tried. We ask about the conditions listed below that rule the treatment out.
- At the first session, the doctor or medical assistant reviews your history, examines the area and confirms StemWave is appropriate. If it is, the first treatment usually happens at that visit.
- During the course, you come in once or twice a week. There is nothing to prepare, and you go straight back to your day afterward.
- At the end of the course, we review how much the pain and your function have changed. If there has been no improvement after five or six sessions, we say so and discuss other options rather than continuing.
| What it treats | Plantar fasciitis, tendon pain, knee and shoulder soft tissue pain, muscular back and neck pain |
|---|---|
| Visit length | 5 to 15 minutes per session |
| Typical course | 8 to 12 sessions, one or two a week, over 4 to 8 weeks |
| Downtime | None |
| Coverage | Self-pay only; available at the Davie clinic |
Who should not have StemWave
Acoustic wave therapy is safe for most people, but it is not used in these situations:
- Pregnancy.
- Active cancer at or near the treatment site.
- A pacemaker or other implanted electronic device close to the area being treated.
- Blood thinners or a bleeding disorder, because the waves can cause bruising.
- A steroid injection at the same site within the past few weeks; we wait before treating.
- An open wound, an infection, or a fracture that has not healed at the site.
Mild redness, bruising or soreness for a day or so after a session is normal. Anything more than that should be reported to the clinic.
Does StemWave hurt?
It feels like firm, rapid tapping. Over a tender spot it is briefly uncomfortable, and the intensity is adjusted to what you can tolerate. Most patients find it easier than they expected, and there is no pain afterward beyond mild soreness.
Why is StemWave only at the Davie clinic?
The equipment is at Davie. Patients from Boynton Beach and elsewhere in Palm Beach County are welcome to come to Davie for their sessions, and the rest of their care can stay at the Boynton Beach clinic.
How many sessions will I need?
A typical course is 8 to 12 sessions over 4 to 8 weeks. The number depends on the condition and how quickly you respond, and the plan is reviewed partway through.
Is StemWave covered by insurance?
No. It is self-pay at Davie. HSA and FSA funds can usually be used, and the front desk gives you the cost before you start.
Is it the same as ultrasound therapy or a TENS unit?
No. Therapeutic ultrasound and TENS deliver continuous sound or electrical stimulation at low intensity. StemWave delivers discrete acoustic pressure waves into a targeted area, which is a different mechanism with a different evidence base.
Can I have StemWave and injections at the same time?
Often, yes, at different sites. If you have had a steroid injection at the area to be treated, we wait a few weeks before starting StemWave there. The doctor sets the timing.