Treatment mechanics
How SoftWave® Therapy Works
No mystery and no hype: here is what the device does, what you feel, how the treatment area is chosen, and what happens across a visit in Coralville.
Direct answer
How does SoftWave therapy work?
A handheld applicator is placed against the skin over the area being treated and delivers acoustic shockwaves into the tissue below, using contact gel so the waves transmit efficiently. The treatment area is selected from examination findings rather than a fixed protocol. Tissue-level mechanism claims should be read alongside the published research, which varies by condition.
Step by step, at the device level
- Gel is applied so acoustic energy transmits from the applicator into tissue
- Intensity and pulse rate are set based on the area and your comfort
- The applicator is moved across the treatment area rather than held in one spot
- Feedback during the session guides adjustments
What people report feeling
A tapping or pulsing sensation is the most common description, usually strongest right over the tissue that is already irritated. That sensitivity is often useful information — it helps confirm the area under treatment. Individual experience varies.
What we won't claim
We do not publish claims that SoftWave cures conditions, guarantees healing, produces permanent pain relief, works for everyone, regenerates every injury or reliably avoids surgery. Where research supports a statement, we cite it in the research library and state the limitations alongside it.
At Total Health Chiropractic
What Happens When You Come In?
Four steps. We don't invent exact visit counts — that comes from findings.
- 01
Tell us what's going on
History, symptoms, what makes it worse, what you've already tried and what you want to get back to doing.
- 02
Get evaluated
Examination to determine what may be contributing to the problem and whether SoftWave® is appropriate for it at all.
- 03
SoftWave treatment
If appropriate, acoustic shockwaves are applied to the treatment area using SoftWave technology, with settings adjusted for comfort.
- 04
Build the plan
Recommendations depend on findings, your condition, your response and your individual needs — including what you do between visits.
Author: Coralville Shockwave editorial team · Clinical reviewer: Dr. Dillon Hammes, DC · Last reviewed: September 1, 2026
Sources and our correction process are described in our editorial policy.
Real Coralville location
SoftWave Therapy Right Here in Coralville.
Treatment is provided in person at Total Health Chiropractic in Coralville — Johnson County, minutes from Iowa City.
Coralville Office Hours
- Monday9 AM–1 PM3 PM–6 PM
- Tuesday9 AM–1 PM3 PM–7 PM
- Wednesday7 AM–1 PM2 PM–5 PM
- Thursday9 AM–1 PM3 PM–6 PM
- Friday9 AM–1 PM
- Saturday10 AM–1 PM
- SundayClosed
Hours can change around holidays — call to confirm before you drive over.