“Shockwave” means three very different things, and most clinics are not clear about which one they own. Focused shockwave is not the same as radial pressure wave. Radial is not the same as SoftWave. EMTT is not shockwave at all. If you are paying for a protocol, you deserve to know exactly what device is pointed at your tissue. Here is the honest, physician-written guide — from someone who trains other physicians on these devices.
The Three Technologies People Call “Shockwave”
Focused shockwave generates a true acoustic shockwave — a rapid, high-energy pressure pulse that converges on a precise point inside the body. It penetrates tissue to depths of 6 to 12 centimeters depending on probe selection. This is what the published European clinical literature is talking about when it reports outcomes on plantar fasciitis, calcific tendinopathy, and nonunion bone healing.
Radial pressure wave is a different physics event. A pneumatic projectile strikes a transmitter, creating a pressure wave that disperses outward from the skin surface. It does not focus. It does not reach deep tissue. Many clinics market radial as “shockwave” because the industry has allowed that loose terminology. Radial pressure waves are not true shockwave.
SoftWave is a third category — unfocused or widely-diverging acoustic waves. SoftWave devices deliver broad energy across a larger tissue area than focused shockwave but with much less energy density at any specific target. Clinically it behaves closer to radial than to focused for deep tendon, bone, and joint pathology.
Why Focused Shockwave Wins for Orthopedic Applications
The choice is physical, not ideological. A partially torn tendon, a calcific deposit in the rotator cuff, a plantar fascia entheseopathy, a nonunion fracture — these are deep structures. To trigger neovascularization, calcium remodeling, and mechanotransduction, you need energy delivered TO the tissue that matters. Radial and SoftWave spread energy across a larger surface at lower density. Focused shockwave concentrates it.
I use Storz focused shockwave devices at Dynamic Athlete. Storz is the platform I teach on at ASTI — the American Shockwave Training Institute, which I founded specifically because too many clinics buying equipment and calling it “shockwave” had no idea what they were actually giving patients.
Where EMTT Fits
EMTT — extracorporeal magnetotransduction therapy — gets lumped in with shockwave because clinics often offer both. EMTT is not acoustic. It is low-frequency electromagnetic pulsing that penetrates deeply into bone and connective tissue, accelerating cellular repair on a different biological pathway.
EMTT standalone is strong for bone-level pathology — stress fractures, nonunions, bone edema. Where it really shines is as a sequenced adjunct to focused shockwave. You use shockwave for tendon and fascia, EMTT for deeper bone and connective tissue, and the combined protocol produces results neither delivers alone. At Dynamic Athlete, this is Dynamic Shockwave+.
Over 90% of our patients self-report a 75% or greater improvement following treatment.
The combination of Storz focused shockwave plus EMTT is why our outcomes do not look like the published averages for generic shockwave or radial clinics. Device selection is not a detail — it is the protocol.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Technology | Energy Profile | Depth | Best Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Focused shockwave (Storz) | Converging, high density | 6–12 cm | Deep tendon, fascia, calcific deposits |
| SoftWave | Broad, diverging, lower density | 2–4 cm | Superficial tissue, larger area |
| Radial pressure wave | Surface dispersion, pneumatic | Near-surface | Massage-adjacent work |
| EMTT | Electromagnetic, non-acoustic | Full penetration | Bone, deep connective tissue |
Is the Distinction Worth It?
Patients pay for outcomes, not marketing. A radial device costs a clinic roughly one-tenth of what a Storz focused platform costs. SoftWave lives in between. The price difference shows up in the outcomes. If you have chronic plantar fasciitis, a calcific rotator cuff, a nonunion fracture, or deep tendon pathology, what you are actually buying is the depth and density of energy that device can deliver.
Dynamic Shockwave+ is self-pay. Cherry Technologies offers payment plans. The real value question is not “which is cheapest” — it is “which will actually heal the injury.” For the conditions that brought you into a shockwave conversation, focused plus EMTT is the answer the literature and the outcomes support.
A Real Patient Story
W.L. is an athletic trainer with decades of experience in orthopedics. She had shoulder pain for nearly a year, had tried every conservative treatment available in Pennsylvania — PT, OT, acupuncture, chiropractics, laser, massage, cortisone — and was being pushed toward surgery. A colleague suggested she look for shockwave while in Colorado. Here is what she shared:
“From the initial consult through the 3 week treatment plan I felt completely heard and validated. Having the correct diagnosis coupled with the proper treatment protocol led to complete resolve of my shoulder pain. I’m sleeping through the night and back to doing all the things I want to do without pain and restriction.” — W.L., Google review
The same device-level specificity applied to T.T., whose chronic low back pain turned out to be SI joint dysfunction. Focused shockwave plus EMTT to the SI ligaments resolved what years of other providers missed. Device selection is not a detail. It is the protocol.
Take the Next Step
Dr. Garg will personally evaluate your condition, review your imaging, and tell you honestly which device — or which combination — fits your case. If focused shockwave plus EMTT is the right answer, that is what we will do. If it is not the right answer, he will tell you that and point you toward what is.
Call: (303) 997-1733
Visit: www.dynamicathlete.com
Email: StayActive@DynamicAthlete.com
Location: 1790 30th Street, Suite 270, Boulder, CO 80301
Insurance is accepted for consultations and office visits, including Medicare and Kaiser. Advanced regenerative treatments are self-pay. Payment plans are available through Cherry Technologies.
FAQs on Focused Shockwave vs Radial vs EMTT
How do you decide which option fits my case?
Exam first. Imaging review. Diagnostic ultrasound. Then the device selection follows the tissue and the pathology. Deep tendon or fascia, calcific deposits, nonunion bone — focused shockwave. Bone-level or deep connective tissue — EMTT. Superficial soft tissue or larger surface area work — radial or SoftWave may be sufficient. Most cases at Dynamic Athlete end up on the combined focused-plus-EMTT protocol.
Can I do multiple modalities together?
Yes — that is the core of Dynamic Shockwave+. Focused shockwave plus EMTT is the standard pairing. Sessions are typically separated by a few days. We sequence based on the specific tissues involved and the stage of tissue response. The combined protocol is what produces outcomes neither modality delivers alone.
Which is more expensive?
Focused shockwave on a Storz platform costs clinics substantially more than radial or SoftWave devices, which is one reason most clinics default to the cheaper options. Patient-facing pricing reflects that difference. Visit our pricing page for details on the Dynamic Shockwave+ structure.
Have patients responded better to one vs. the other?
For deep orthopedic pathology — chronic tendinopathy, calcific deposits, nonunion fractures, SI joint dysfunction, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff conditions — the clinical outcomes we see on focused plus EMTT substantially exceed what patients report from previous radial or SoftWave treatment elsewhere. The device matters.
What if I’ve already had radial or SoftWave elsewhere and it didn’t work?
That is one of the most common patient histories we see. A course of focused shockwave plus EMTT often resolves what previous radial or SoftWave treatment did not. The first clinic did not do anything wrong — they used the tool they had. The result was limited by what that tool can physically do.
We see patients from across the Front Range — Boulder, Longmont, Lafayette, Louisville, Broomfield, Superior, Denver, Golden, Erie, Westminster, and the mountain communities.