If you’ve been living with persistent tendon pain, you’ve probably tried some combination of rest, ice, stretching, medications, or even injections. While these treatments may temporarily reduce discomfort, many people are left wondering why their pain keeps coming back.
At Action Rehab Hawaii, we’re excited to offer StemWave Therapy as part of our comprehensive treatment approach. When combined with expert physical therapy, StemWave can help address not only your pain but also the underlying cause of your injury—giving you the best opportunity for long-term recovery.
Understanding Tendonitis vs. Tendinosis
Many people use the terms tendonitis and tendinosis interchangeably, but they describe different conditions.
Tendonitis is an acute inflammatory response that typically develops after a sudden increase in activity or a new injury.
Tendinosis is a chronic condition that develops over time. Instead of inflammation, the tendon begins to show signs of degeneration, making it weaker, less organized, and slower to heal.
Many people who have experienced pain for several months are actually dealing with tendinosis rather than tendonitis.
Common conditions include:
- Tennis elbow
- Golfer’s elbow
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Patellar tendon pain (jumper’s knee)
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Plantar fasciitis
Is StemWave Covered by Insurance?
At this time, StemWave Therapy is considered a cash-based service and is not covered by most health insurance plans.
While that may seem discouraging at first, many of our patients choose StemWave because they’re looking for treatment options that go beyond simply managing symptoms. StemWave is designed to support your body’s natural healing process and may help address chronic tendon injuries that haven’t responded to traditional care alone.
We believe you should have access to treatments that have the potential to improve your recovery—even when insurance hasn’t yet caught up with newer technologies. Our team will always discuss whether StemWave is appropriate for your condition and recommend it only when we believe it can provide meaningful benefit.
For many patients, combining StemWave Therapy with a personalized physical therapy program offers a comprehensive approach focused on reducing pain, restoring function, and helping them return to the activities they enjoy.
Why We Combine StemWave with Physical Therapy
While StemWave helps stimulate healing, it doesn’t automatically correct the movement patterns or strength deficits that may have contributed to the problem in the first place.
That’s where physical therapy makes the difference.
Your physical therapist will identify issues such as:
- Muscle weakness
- Poor flexibility
- Joint stiffness
- Balance deficits
- Faulty movement mechanics
- Sport- or work-related movement patterns
Together, StemWave and physical therapy create a more complete treatment plan.
StemWave helps improve the tendon’s healing environment, while physical therapy restores strength, mobility, flexibility, and proper movement to reduce stress on the injured tissue.
For many patients, this combination provides better long-term results than either treatment alone.
What to Expect During Treatment
Your therapist will first perform a thorough evaluation to determine whether StemWave is appropriate for your condition.
During treatment, a handheld applicator delivers acoustic waves to the injured area. Most patients describe the sensation as a series of tapping or pulsing sensations. Treatment is generally well tolerated and lasts about 10–15 minutes.
Depending on your diagnosis and how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms, most patients benefit from a series of treatments combined with a personalized physical therapy program.
Is StemWave Right for You?
If you’ve been struggling with tendon pain that hasn’t improved with rest or traditional treatments, StemWave may be an excellent option.
Whether you’re dealing with chronic shoulder pain, tennis elbow, Achilles pain, plantar fasciitis, or another tendon injury, our team can determine if this treatment is appropriate for your specific condition.
At Action Rehab Hawaii, our goal isn’t just to reduce your pain—we want to help you return to the activities you love with confidence.
Schedule Your Evaluation
If chronic tendon pain has been limiting your work, sports, or daily activities, we’d love to help.
Contact Action Rehab today to schedule a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll discuss your goals, determine whether StemWave Therapy is appropriate for your condition, and create a personalized treatment plan that may include physical therapy, StemWave, or a combination of both to help you achieve the best possible outcome.