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CoralvilleShockwave

Knee — Coralville

Your Knee Shouldn't Control Your Day.

Stairs. Getting out of the car. The first squat of a workout. Standing up after a movie. When a knee starts deciding what you do, the problem has stopped being minor.

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Direct answer

Can shockwave therapy be used for knee pain?

Knee pain is a symptom, not a single diagnosis, so the honest answer is that it depends on what is driving it. Shockwave therapy has been studied for certain knee-related tendon and soft-tissue problems, and it may be considered after an evaluation identifies the source. SoftWave® is available in Coralville at Total Health Chiropractic, 2201 E. Grantview Dr. #202.

"Knee pain" covers several different problems

The knee is loaded by the hip, the ankle and the whole leg, and several structures can generate similar-sounding pain: patellar tendon, the tissue around the kneecap, the joint surfaces, the hamstring and quadriceps attachments and structures inside the joint.

Different structures respond to different approaches. Tendon-related problems typically improve with progressive loading; joint-surface problems respond to different strategies again. That is why the first step is identifying the problem rather than choosing a treatment.

Why isn't it getting better?

Persistent musculoskeletal problems usually linger for a reason, and the reason is rarely a single missing treatment. Common contributors include:

  • Returning to full activity as soon as the pain drops
  • Loading that repeats faster than the tissue rebuilds
  • Hip or ankle mechanics that keep sending load to the same spot
  • Rehab that stopped before strength actually returned
  • Treating the knee when the driver is elsewhere in the chain
  • A different diagnosis than was assumed at the start

SoftWave® does not solve all of these. The first step isn't choosing a treatment — it's understanding the problem.

Where SoftWave may fit

  • Considered mainly for persistent tendon or soft-tissue problems around the knee
  • Not a substitute for rebuilding strength and load tolerance
  • Never appropriate before the source of the pain is understood
  • Discussed as a potential addition to a plan, with realistic expectations

Why diagnosis matters

Two people can describe the same symptoms and need different plans. An evaluation at Total Health Chiropractic is about identifying what is producing the pain and what keeps loading it, then deciding whether SoftWave belongs in the plan at all.

Common approaches

What usually gets considered — and where shockwave sits

Shockwave therapy is one option among several. An honest plan usually combines a few of these.

Evaluation first

Identifying which structure is producing the pain and what is loading it.

Progressive strengthening

Rebuilding capacity in the quad, hip and calf rather than resting indefinitely.

Activity modification

Adjusting volume, surface, depth or pace instead of stopping everything.

Manual therapy

Hands-on care aimed at comfort and movement quality.

Shockwave therapy

One option that may be considered for appropriate tendon-related knee problems.

Referral or imaging

When findings point to something needing another opinion.

Verified outcomes

Verified knee pain outcomes

Real patient progress should speak louder than marketing — which is why this section only ever shows verified clinic data.

Verified outcomes are being prepared.

We publish patient outcomes only when they come from verified ChiropracticResults records supplied by Total Health Chiropractic — condition, chief complaint, baseline and post measures, change, timeframe and treatment. Nothing on this site is invented or estimated, so this space stays empty until that data is in hand.

Ask about outcomes for your conditionSee the published research

Research

What does the research say?

Published findings relevant to this condition, with limitations stated alongside them.

2018Focused and radial ESWT

The effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in common lower limb conditions: a systematic review

Korakakis V, Whiteley R, Tzavara A, Malliaropoulos N · British Journal of Sports Medicine

Plain-language finding: This review reported low-level evidence that shockwave therapy may be beneficial for several persistent lower-limb conditions, while noting the quality of the underlying evidence base as a limitation.

Limitations: Evidence quality was rated low to moderate; blinding, sham design and dosing differ across studies.

Condition studied: Lower-limb tendinopathies, plantar fasciopathy, medial tibial stress syndrome

View source
Browse the full research library

FAQ

Knee Pain questions people ask

Where can I get SoftWave in Coralville?

SoftWave therapy is available through Total Health Chiropractic at 2201 E. Grantview Dr. #202 in Coralville, Iowa. You can call (319) 338-7025 to ask about an evaluation.

What conditions are commonly evaluated?

Common reasons people ask about shockwave therapy include plantar fasciitis and heel pain, knee pain, shoulder pain, tennis elbow and golfer's elbow, Achilles and other tendon problems, hip and soft-tissue pain, back pain and sports or overuse injuries. Evaluation determines whether SoftWave is appropriate for your situation.

Can shockwave therapy be used for knee pain?

Knee pain is a symptom rather than a single diagnosis. Shockwave therapy has been studied for certain knee-related tendon and soft-tissue problems, so the first step is identifying what is actually driving the pain.

Is there downtime?

Shockwave therapy is non-invasive and does not involve incisions or anesthesia. Activity guidance after a session depends on your condition and what your provider recommends.

See all frequently asked questions

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.

Located in Coralville

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.

Total Health Chiropractic

2201 E. Grantview Dr. #202
Coralville, IA 52241
(319) 338-7025
DirectionsSchedule

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.

Call(319) 338-7025DirectionsCoralvilleScheduleSoftWave