Can Shockwave Help My Knee Pain?
Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain: Does It Actually Work?
Dr. Park Performing rehabilitative exercises for knee pain with a patient.
By: Zach Main DC
As a chiropractor focused on rehabilitation, you’d think I never deal with pain myself. I wish that were the case.
Even when we move well, train smart, and do everything “right,” sometimes the body sends us a little reminder that we’re human.
Yesterday, out of nowhere, my knee started bugging me. (And yes, I say “out of nowhere”, but obviously something irritated it. I just couldn’t pinpoint the exact mechanism.)
So I did what any movement-focused chiropractor would do: I did a quick self-treatment session with our shockwave therapy machine. And that sent me down a rabbit hole of reading more research on how shockwave impacts different types of knee pain.
This blog is a breakdown of what I found, and how shockwave therapy might finally help you ditch that nagging knee pain you’ve had since 2013.
Let’s get into it.
Common Causes of Knee Pain We See in the Clinic
This isn’t an exhaustive list, but it covers the majority of knee issues we treat at Northcenter Healthcare:
Patellofemoral pain
Knee osteoarthritis (OA)
Quadriceps tendinopathy
Patellar tendinopathy
Meniscus irritation
Iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS)
Pes anserine bursitis
MCL/LCL sprain
ACL/PCL injury
Baker’s cyst
Our Approach at Northcenter Healthcare
No matter what you come in with - knee pain, low back pain, shoulder issues - our process starts the same:
A detailed history + a movement-focused exam.
From there, we build the plan. For knee pain, this often includes:
Chiropractic manipulation (yes, knee and hip adjustments can help)
Soft tissue techniques (IASTM, sports cupping, dry needling)
Rehab exercises rooted in Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) to improve coordination, strength, and joint control
Most people improve with this approach. But for certain cases, especially knee OA, ligament injuries, bursitis, cysts, and chronic tendinopathies, we like to bring in a little more “power.”
That’s where shockwave therapy comes in.
What the Research Says About Shockwave Therapy for Knee Pain
Here’s a quick breakdown of five studies I reviewed, all looking at shockwave therapy (ESWT) applied to different knee conditions:
1. Shockwave for Knee Osteoarthritis
Avendaño-Coy J, Comino-Suárez N, Grande-Muñoz J, Avendaño-López C, Gómez-Soriano J. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy improves pain and function in subjects with knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Int J Surg. 2020 Oct;82:64-75. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.07.055. Epub 2020 Aug 13. PMID: 32798759.
Results:
Effective for improving pain and function
Benefits seen in the short term
Only minor side effects reported
2. Another Knee OA Study (Safety + Effectiveness)
Ma H, Zhang W, Shi J, Zhou D, Wang J. The efficacy and safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in knee osteoarthritis: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Surg. 2020 Mar;75:24-34. doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2020.01.017. Epub 2020 Jan 21. PMID: 31978648.
Results:
Shockwave is both safe and effective
Reduces pain
Improves knee functional capacity
No increased risk of adverse events
3. Predictors of Shockwave Therapy Success in Knee OA
Liao CD, Tsauo JY, Liou TH, Chen HC, Huang SW. Clinical efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy for knee osteoarthritis: a systematic review and meta-regression of randomized controlled trials. Clin Rehabil. 2019 Sep;33(9):1419-1430. doi: 10.1177/0269215519846942. Epub 2019 May 8. PMID: 31066293.
Results:
Shockwave is beneficial for most patients
Certain clinical factors may predict better outcomes
4. Shockwave After ACL Reconstruction
Shin J, Rhim HC, Kim J, Guo R, Elshafey R, Jang KM. Use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy combined with standard rehabilitation following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a systematic review with meta-analysis. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2025 Jan 23;26(1):79. doi: 10.1186/s12891-025-08277-9. PMID: 39844151; PMCID: PMC11756125.
Results:
When combined with standard rehab, shockwave may improve patient-reported outcomes
Potential to speed up recovery of certain functional deficits
5. Shockwave for Knee Soft Tissue Disorders
Liao CD, Xie GM, Tsauo JY, Chen HC, Liou TH. Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for knee tendinopathies and other soft tissue disorders: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2018 Aug 2;19(1):278. doi: 10.1186/s12891-018-2204-6. PMID: 30068324; PMCID: PMC6090995.
(Including tendinopathy, bursitis, IT band issues, etc.)
Results:
Improves treatment success rate
Reduces pain
Helps restore range of motion
So… Does Shockwave Therapy Help Knee Pain?
Short answer: Yes, for many people, it can.
Long answer: It depends on your specific condition, your movement patterns, and what your goals are.
Shockwave therapy is not a magic fix. But it is a powerful tool, especially when paired with:
Smart rehab
Targeted strengthening
Improved joint mechanics
A treatment plan tailored to your movement
That’s why at Northcenter Healthcare, we are evidence-informed. We combine:
Research
Clinical judgment
Your individual presentation to determine whether shockwave is the right fit.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
If you’ve been dealing with knee pain for weeks, months, or even years, and you’re tired of band-aid solutions, shockwave therapy might be worth exploring.
Whether it's:
Knee OA
Tendinopathy
IT band irritation
Post-surgical stiffness
Chronic pain that hasn’t budged
Shockwave could help jumpstart the healing process and get you moving again.
If you’re curious whether you're a good candidate, feel free to schedule a free discovery call with one of our doctors. We’ll talk through your symptoms, your goals, and whether shockwave is the right next step for you.
Click the link to make an appointment, or book your FREE Discovery call or Movement Assessment today!
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