Frequently Asked
Questions
Frequently Asked
Questions
You have questions. We have answers.
If you do not see the answer to your question below, please feel free to contact us or ask a vet. You can also download our Canine FAQ Brochure for more information!

What can I expect from a shock wave treatment?
An average treatment is relatively fast and easy, typically 10-15 minutes. Because we are dealing with sound energy and deep healing, mild and reversible sedation is often administered. This will help ensure the animal’s comfort.
Your vet will select the number of pulses for the indication being treated, apply the trode and deliver the pulses as necessary.
Typically you can see results with 1- 3 treatments. However, it is important to note that this is a cumulative energy treatment and the biological responses and healing effects take place over a period of time. A brief analgesic period is sometimes seen and usually passes 3-4 days post-treatment.
It is, therefore, important that the animal is rested during this period, although confinement is not necessary. It’s important to follow the post-treatment directions of your veterinarian, as they will vary based on your pet’s specific condition.
What is a shock wave?
Shock wave therapy is a noninvasive, high-energy, sound wave treatment commonly used in human and veterinary medicine. It helps the body in relieving pain, speeding healing, and improving the quality of healing. Shock wave is a much higher energy treatment and can penetrate deeper areas than many other types of modalities.
“Shock wave” is a physics term to describe a rapid increase in pressure, such as the energy from an explosion or thunder resulting from lightning. “Shock wave” does not refer to electrical shock. It is actually a high-energy SOUND wave treatment.
How does shock wave work?
Shock wave provides a high-energy, focused sound wave. The sound wave acts as a mechanical force at the cellular level, causing various biological reactions, including the release of proteins and other substances that have a profound effect in increasing blood supply to the area and stimulating the release of numerous substances involved in the normal healing process.
Shock wave has also been demonstrated to recruit stem cells and positively regulate inflammatory proteins associated with osteoarthritis. In fact, numerous studies show these effects to be at least as potent as those of Platelet-Derived Growth Hormone.
What is shock wave used for?
Shock wave has been proven effective and is considered the gold standard of treatment for a variety of musculoskeletal and orthopedic conditions, including:
- Tendon, ligament, and muscle injuries
- Osteoarthritis/Degenerative Joint Disease
- Foot/Heel pain
- Bone healing/fractures (splints; stress fractures; buck shins)
- Back and neck pain (kissing spines/lumbosacral pain/arthritis)
- Wound healing
Can shock wave be used with other treatments?
Yes. Shock wave can be used on their own (as an alternative to surgery) or with other modalities.
Are there different types of shock wave?
Yes, there are a variety of technologies available, and the key differences directly correlate to safety and efficacy. More importantly, there are three different ways of producing shock wave for medical use: electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, and piezoelectric. Only the electro-hydraulic technology, as used by PulseVet, creates a primary, focused shock wave. This leads to much larger volumes of tissue being treated per shock and is demonstrably superior.
In addition, there is a radial pressure wave technology which is often falsely referred to as a shock wave technology.
The technology has been documented in extensive human and animal research and validated in thousands of clinical studies. It is the only type that provides true focused energy and true shock waves at all energy settings, which is critical to ensuring results. The versatility of the device and different penetration depths make it optimal for various indications.