Focused Shockwave Therapy for Sioux City Patients

Shockwave therapy uses acoustic sound waves to treat tendons and soft tissue that are stuck in a cycle of pain. At FreeMVMT, we use an OmniWave focused shockwave device. Focused shockwave concentrates its energy on a targeted spot in the tissue, rather than spreading it across the surface. That lets us aim treatment right where the problem is.

It's a non-surgical, drug-free option. Nothing is injected. The goal is to prompt your body's own repair response in the treated tissue.

People from Sioux City and the surrounding area come to see us for:

• Plantar fasciitis and heel pain: learn more
• Achilles tendonitis: learn more
• Patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee): learn more
• Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow: learn more
• Rotator cuff and shoulder tendonitis
• Hip and gluteal tendon pain
• Soft-tissue adhesions and scar tissue

Common symptoms include pain at the start of activity, pain that eases and then returns, stiffness after sitting, tenderness right over the tendon, and an ache that's still there months after you first noticed it.

Tendons don't have a big blood supply, so they tend to heal slowly. Many people rest, ice, and stretch, then flare up again as soon as they return to their sport. Others push through and slowly make it worse.

Our team is led by Justin Stevenson, M.S. Kinesiology, who brings 25 years of practice experience. We find the sore spot is rarely the whole story. A stiff ankle can overload the Achilles. Hip mechanics can overload the knee. Grip and shoulder position can overload the elbow. If we don't address how you move, the tissue keeps getting overloaded.

Each pulse creates a controlled stimulus in the tissue. Research on how shockwave works suggests it may help relieve pain, calm inflammation, and support new blood vessel growth and tissue repair [2][3]. Think of it as a nudge to a healing process that has stalled.

Every body responds differently, and we don't promise a specific result. We focus on treating the tissue and the mechanics behind it, so you have the best chance of getting back to what you enjoy.

Shockwave has been studied for many tendon and soft-tissue problems.

• A systematic review of orthopedic shockwave studies described it as an effective and safe non-invasive option, with a common protocol of about three sessions a week apart [1].
• For lower-limb tendon pain, including hip and gluteal tendon pain, Achilles, and patellar tendon pain, a systematic review concluded shockwave should be considered, particularly when other non-surgical care hasn't worked [4].
• For upper-limb tendon problems, including rotator cuff tendonitis and tennis elbow, a meta-analysis reported shockwave may help relieve pain, with a low rate of side effects [5].
• For plantar fasciitis, a multicenter trial of focused shockwave reported a bigger drop in heel pain than placebo at 12 weeks [6].

Each condition page above has its own research summary.

1. Assessment first. We go over your history and goals, then we watch how you move. We use Kinetisense 3D motion analysis to measure range of motion, so you can see your progress in numbers, not just in how you feel.
2. OmniWave treatment. Focused shockwave sessions are quick. Most people feel pressure or mild discomfort, and we adjust the intensity to your comfort.
3. A clear plan. Most plans involve several sessions spaced about a week apart, plus a few targeted movement changes. We'll talk about cost before you start.

Shockwave therapy is generally not recommended during pregnancy, or for people with certain blood clotting conditions or a pacemaker. We'll review your health history before we begin.

See a physician first if your pain followed a fall, a hard hit, or a sudden "pop," if you can't bear weight or use the limb, if there's significant swelling, redness, warmth, or fever, or if you have numbness, tingling, or weakness that's getting worse.

FreeMVMT is at 330 Dakota Dunes Blvd Ste 400 in Dakota Dunes, SD, a short drive up I-29 from Sioux City, IA. We regularly see patients from Sioux City, South Sioux City, NE, North Sioux City, SD, and Dakota Dunes, along with hockey players, runners, golfers, and people in physically demanding jobs from across the tri-state area.

Do I need a referral for shockwave therapy?
No referral is needed. You can book directly with FreeMVMT.

Is shockwave therapy covered by insurance?
No. Shockwave therapy is self-pay. (Adhesion Relief / Soft Tissue Therapy is a separate service and is typically covered by insurance.)

What does shockwave feel like?
Most patients feel pressure or mild discomfort during treatment, and we adjust the intensity based on your comfort.

How far is FreeMVMT from Sioux City?
We're in Dakota Dunes, SD, just across the river from Sioux City, at 330 Dakota Dunes Blvd Ste 400.

Book online or call 605-217-2100.

1. Schmitz C, Császár NB, Milz S, et al. (2015). Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for orthopedic conditions: a systematic review on studies listed in the PEDro database. Br Med Bull 116(1):115-138. PubMed 26585999 · doi:10.1093/bmb/ldv047
2. d'Agostino MC, Craig K, Tibalt E, Respizzi S. (2015). Shock wave as biological therapeutic tool: from mechanical stimulation to recovery and healing, through mechanotransduction. Int J Surg 24(Pt B):147-153. PubMed 26612525 · doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2015.11.030
3. Simplicio CL, Purita J, Murrell W, et al. (2020). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy mechanisms in musculoskeletal regenerative medicine. J Clin Orthop Trauma 11(Suppl 3):S309-S318. PubMed 32523286 · doi:10.1016/j.jcot.2020.02.004
4. Mani-Babu S, Morrissey D, Waugh C, Screen H, Barton C. (2015). The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in lower limb tendinopathy: a systematic review. Am J Sports Med 43(3):752-761. PubMed 24817008 · doi:10.1177/0363546514531911
5. Xiong Y, Wen T, Jin S, et al. (2024). Efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for upper limb tendonitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Front Med (Lausanne) 11:1394268. PubMed 39139789 · doi:10.3389/fmed.2024.1394268
6. Gollwitzer H, Saxena A, DiDomenico LA, et al. (2015). Clinically relevant effectiveness of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis: a randomized, controlled multicenter study. J Bone Joint Surg Am 97(9):701-708. PubMed 25948515 · doi:10.2106/JBJS.M.01331