Why This Comparison Matters
Patients often face this decision:
👉 Injection vs non-invasive therapy
Steroid Injections: Strengths and Limitations
Pros:
- Fast pain relief
- Widely available
Cons:
- Temporary effect
- Risk of tendon weakening
- Does not repair tissue
Shockwave Therapy: A Different Approach
Shockwave therapy:
- Does not inject anything
- Works through mechanical stimulation
- Promotes biological healing
What Research Shows
Head-to-Head Evidence:
- Meta-analysis shows shockwave therapy improves pain and function better than corticosteroid injections in the mid-term
- Multiple trials confirm ESWT is effective compared to placebo and conservative care
Key Insight
👉 Steroids = short-term suppression
👉 Shockwave = long-term stimulation
When to Choose Each
| Situation | Better Option |
|---|---|
| Severe acute pain | Injection |
| Chronic, recurring pain | Shockwave |
| Avoiding invasiveness | Shockwave |
Clinical Positioning
Shockwave is commonly positioned as:
👉 “Next step after failed conservative care, before injections or surgery”
Zestora Sponsored Trial
For patients unsure:
- Try shockwave with reduced cost barrier
- Evaluate response before committing
FAQs
Q: Is shockwave better than PRP?
PRP may show slightly stronger results in some studies, but differences are often not clinically significant
Q: Why not just inject?
Because injections don’t fix underlying degeneration.
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