Shockwave technology was first developed for extracorporeal lithotripsy — using acoustic waves to break up kidney stones without surgery. Over subsequent decades, researchers and manufacturers adapted the underlying acoustic wave technology into devices intended for musculoskeletal and soft-tissue applications.

Devices in this category are typically operated through a handheld applicator placed against the skin, without needles or incisions, and treatment sessions are generally brief.

Shockwave devices generate short, high-energy acoustic pulses and direct them into tissue through the skin. Devices vary in how they generate these pulses (e.g., radial vs. focused wave technology) and in their adjustable output — including frequency, pressure, and pulse count.

The biological effects of acoustic wave energy on tissue have been an active area of research for several decades. Any specific claims about how a particular device affects the body depend on that device's studies, labeling, and regulatory clearance — this overview does not make claims about specific outcomes.

Shockwave devices are regulated by the FDA as medical devices. Depending on their intended use and classification, they may require premarket clearance or approval before being marketed for specific medical purposes. Different devices in this category are cleared or approved for different, specific indications, and manufacturers are only permitted to make claims consistent with their device's actual clearance or approval.

• Non-invasive, in-office use
• No anesthesia required
• No incisions, sutures, or scarring
• No increased infection risk from the procedure itself
• Minimal downtime associated with non-invasive procedures of this kind