Technology

Focused vs. Radial
Many indications in Orthopaedics, Sexual Health, Neurology, and Aesthetics can ONLY be treated by ‘Focused’ Shockwave Therapy. ‘Radial’ wave technology does have many uses in the medical industry and it can be effective for certain treatments, but not others.
For treatment of sexual dysfunction or urological conditions, however, only focused shockwaves should be used. The vast majority of the peer reviewed literature regarding the safety and efficacy of shockwave therapy uses FOCUSED or LINEAR shockwaves, not radial.
Key Differences
- Focused treatments produce actual shockwaves ā they travel at 1500 meters per second.
- Radial treatments do not produce actual shockwaves ā they travel at 10 meters per second.
- Focused shockwaves are electromagnetic and can be directed to very specific locations and depths within the body.
- Radial treatments only create surface-level pressure outward and thus cannot achieve the depths inside the body where rehabilitation needs to occur to reverse certain issues.
Shockwave Therapy is a revolutionary, relatively young modality. The efficacy rates for some indications are truly astounding. See the tremendous amount of evidence here. But be clear: in most of the listed peer-reviewed papers which show exceptional results for shockwave therapy - only a Focused shockwave device was used; not Radial.
At FocusWave Clinic in Ottawa and Kitchener-Waterloo, we are using only the industry standard, regulator-approved, Focused shockwave device. The bottom line is you should ask your provider if they are offering Focused or Linear Shockwave Therapy, or if it is Radial or Acoustic.
Learn more about this amazing therapy by downloading the complimentary E-Book.