Shockwave Therapy for Shoulder Pain: Frozen Shoulder and Tendon Pain Explained

Frozen shoulder and tendon pain feel similar but behave very differently. Here's how shockwave therapy fits each.

Short answer: the strongest shockwave research in the shoulder is for calcific tendinopathy. Evidence for frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is smaller and newer. Frozen shoulder also tends to follow its own months-long course, so improvements may reflect time and stretching as much as any treatment.

Frozen Shoulder

Frozen shoulder causes stiffness in all directions, often in stages over many months. The AAOS describes the stages and standard care.

Rotator Cuff Tendon Pain

Tendon pain usually hurts with lifting or reaching while passive motion is preserved. Research on shockwave for calcific tendinitis is summarized on PubMed.

Why Experiences Vary

Some patients find shoulder sessions uncomfortable, others tolerate them easily. Intensity can be adjusted.

The Mayo Clinic also overviews frozen shoulder treatment.

See our articles on frozen shoulder and rotator cuff pain, and our shoulder pain page.

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