Many people accept aches and pains as a normal part of getting older. Increasingly, that assumption is worth questioning — particularly for patients who have already worked through the standard options and still hurt.
Dr. Ryan Roubion of Metairie Orthopedics & Sports Medicine recently joined FOX 8 WVUE's Morning Edition to discuss shockwave therapy, a non-surgical treatment the practice offers at its Metairie location for chronic tendon and joint pain.
Segment courtesy of FOX 8 WVUE, aired July 20, 2026. Watch the original segment on FOX 8.
Who shockwave therapy is actually for
The clearest way to understand this treatment is to understand which patients it was developed for.
"We meet a lot of patients who have done several rounds of cortisone shots, have done physical therapy, who are not interested in surgery for a variety of reasons, or maybe they're not a great surgical candidate."
That description covers a large number of people. Cortisone injections are genuinely useful, and this practice uses them regularly — but relief is often temporary.
"We love cortisone shots. We like to target it, we like to get into the joint and make patients feel better. Unfortunately, a lot of patients after three months or so, they're coming back with pain."
When that cycle repeats, patients are frequently told the remaining options are more injections or surgery. Shockwave therapy occupies the space in between.
What shockwave therapy does
Shockwave therapy — clinically known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or ESWT — delivers focused acoustic energy into tissue. It involves no injections, no anesthesia, and typically no downtime.
A note on terminology, because patients encounter several names for the same thing. Shockwave therapy is the general term for the treatment. StemWave® is the specific system used at Metairie Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and it is a form of advanced electrohydraulic shockwave therapy. You may also see it written as ESWT or extracorporeal shockwave therapy. These all describe the same category of treatment. Despite the StemWave name, this is not specifically a stem cell treatment — it works by recruiting blood flow into the area, allowing the patient's own biology to heal the tissue.
Dr. Roubion described the mechanism in two stages: "It brings a mechanical wave through the tissue to clear inflammation, and after about three or four weeks it can recruit a new blood supply to the area."
That second stage is the important one. Certain tissues in the body have limited blood supply by nature, which is part of why they heal slowly or incompletely.
Dr. Roubion pointed to tendons in the elbow and shoulder as examples — structures that "just don't have a great blood supply, and over years they can degenerate to some degree."
"This new technology, if you get enough treatments, it can actually start to reverse or at least hold off some of these degenerative changes."
Individual results vary, and candidacy depends on the specific diagnosis.
Setting realistic expectations
One of the more useful points in the segment concerned what patients should expect, and when.
Early sessions tend to produce temporary relief, because the immediate effect is reducing inflammation. The more durable change comes later, once new blood supply has developed in the treated area — generally around three to four weeks in.
As Dr. Roubion put it: "After the new blood supply comes in, your own body can clear that inflammation. Your own body can help rejuvenate that tissue that has maybe had a poor blood supply for many years."
Understanding that sequence matters. Patients who expect permanent relief after one session may conclude the treatment isn't working when it's simply following its normal course.
How this differs from a TENS unit
Many patients are familiar with TENS units, which are widely available and often confused with this treatment. They are not the same technology, and the practical difference comes down to depth.
Older devices could reach structures close to the surface — the plantar fascia, or the Achilles tendon. Current shockwave equipment penetrates considerably further.
"These new technologies can actually get deep into the tissue and target something even like a hip, which is very deep, very thick — thick muscle over the top, and the machines can actually get into that area. That's been the game changer for us."
That depth is what makes the treatment relevant for deep joints and structures that surface-level devices were never able to reach.
A note on at-home devices
Consumer versions of these devices are now widely marketed online, often to exactly the audience this treatment is meant for.
Dr. Roubion's advice on the segment was direct: don't order one and treat yourself. Beyond the substantial differences in output and depth between consumer devices and clinical equipment, self-treatment skips the step that determines whether any of this will help — an accurate diagnosis.
Why diagnosis comes first
This is where the practice's approach differs meaningfully from other places offering shockwave therapy in the New Orleans area.
"As orthopedic surgeons — let's just say somebody has shoulder pain. There are many different structures in the shoulder that could have problems. When we can target a very specific structure, we feel like we can have good results. We can ultrasound that structure. We can have a targeted approach instead of a one size fits all for every patient."
At Metairie Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, treatment decisions are made by an orthopedic physician, and imaging is used where indicated to identify the tissue involved before treatment begins. The practice has diagnostic ultrasound available in-office, which can pinpoint the location and nature of the problem during your visit; MRI and other imaging may also be used depending on the condition. The therapy is directed at a confirmed source of pain rather than a general area of discomfort.
It's also not positioned as a replacement for everything else. Asked whether shockwave therapy might one day replace injections or surgery, Dr. Roubion was measured: "I think it's just complementary to those things. In certain settings, a cortisone shot is great, and you may be one and done. It's going to be an additive modality for us to try to treat your pain. It really depends on your pathology, and that's where getting a specific and a correct diagnosis is very important."
Conditions that may respond to shockwave therapy
Shockwave therapy may be considered for select patients with chronic musculoskeletal conditions, particularly when symptoms persist despite conservative care. Common applications include:
- Plantar fasciitis and chronic heel pain — see Foot & Ankle
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy and chronic shoulder pain — see Shoulder
- Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) — see Elbow
- Hip and gluteal tendinopathy — see Hip
- Patellar tendon pain and select knee conditions — see Knee
- Chronic Achilles tendon pain
- Other chronic tendon and soft-tissue conditions
Shockwave therapy is not appropriate for every condition or every patient. Candidacy is determined through clinical examination and imaging.
Full details on the treatment, what a first visit involves, and frequently asked questions are available on our shockwave therapy (StemWave®) page.
Frequently asked questions
Is StemWave the same as shockwave therapy?
Yes. StemWave® is the specific technology used at Metairie Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and it is a form of advanced electrohydraulic shockwave therapy. You may also see the treatment referred to as ESWT or extracorporeal shockwave therapy.
Is shockwave therapy covered by insurance?
Shockwave therapy is typically a self-pay service. Pricing and expectations are reviewed with you before treatment begins.
Does the treatment hurt?
Sensation varies between patients. Most describe it as uncomfortable but tolerable, and intensity is adjusted for comfort during the session.
How many sessions will I need?
Treatment plans vary by condition and by how you respond. Your provider will recommend a structured plan based on imaging and progress rather than an open-ended schedule.
Is this stem cell therapy?
Despite the StemWave name, this is not specifically a stem cell treatment. It uses acoustic energy to recruit blood flow into the treated area, allowing the patient's own biology to heal the tissue.
Is shockwave therapy the same as a TENS unit?
No. TENS units deliver electrical stimulation near the surface. Clinical shockwave equipment delivers focused acoustic energy that reaches significantly deeper structures.
Shockwave therapy in Metairie
Shockwave therapy is currently offered at our Metairie office, serving patients throughout Jefferson Parish, Orleans Parish, and the greater New Orleans area — including Metairie, Kenner, New Orleans, Harahan, and River Ridge. Patients seen at our LaPlace clinic are welcome to schedule shockwave treatment at the Metairie location.
Metairie — shockwave therapy available
3001 Division Street, Suite 204
Metairie, LA 70002
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 504-541-5800
We also see patients at our LaPlace clinic on Tuesdays and Thursdays — see office locations for details.
Treatment is provided by our physician-led orthopedic team.
If you have chronic tendon or joint pain that hasn't improved with injections or physical therapy, an evaluation is the place to start. Our physicians will examine the area, use diagnostic imaging where indicated, and discuss whether shockwave therapy or another approach makes sense for your situation.
Or call 504-541-5800
This article is for general information and is not medical advice. Shockwave therapy is not appropriate for every patient or condition, and individual results vary. Quotations are from Dr. Roubion's July 20, 2026 appearance on FOX 8 WVUE, lightly edited for readability. Please consult a qualified physician regarding your specific symptoms.