About the Softwave Shockwave Therapy at Akasha
Would you benefit from Softwave Therapy?
Softwave can help if you:
Have chronic pelvic or musculoskeletal pain that hasn’t fully resolved
Experience urinary leakage or urgency
Struggle with sexual function or discomfort
Want to accelerate healing from injury or surgery
Prefer non-invasive, medication-free treatments
Value long-term improvement instead of short-term symptom relief
General Softwave Questions
What is Softwave Shockwave Therapy?
Softwave Therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses gentle mechanical pressure waves to stimulate your body’s natural healing response. These waves reach deep into the tissue to calm inflammation, improve circulation, and signal cells to repair and regenerate.
How does it work?
When the waves enter your tissue, they create a process called mechanotransduction — where mechanical energy is converted into a biological response. This triggers the release of growth factors, improves blood flow, and helps the body move out of a “stuck” inflammatory phase.
In simpler terms: Softwave helps your body heal itself, faster and more completely.
Is it safe?
Yes. Softwave is FDA-cleared and has been studied for years in urology, orthopedics, and physical therapy. It’s completely non-invasive and doesn’t cause bruising or tissue damage. There’s no downtime — you can go right back to your day.
Does it hurt?
No. Most people describe the treatment as a light tapping or pulsing sensation. It’s typically pain-free, even in sensitive areas, and can be adjusted for your comfort.
What makes Akasha’s Softwave therapy different from other Shockwave treatments?
Softwave uses broad-focused mechanical pressure waves that cover a larger, deeper area without creating microtrauma. Other systems, like focused or radial shockwave, can be more intense and less comfortable. Softwave achieves deeper healing using lower energy — meaning you get powerful results without the discomfort.
How is this different than ultrasound or electrical stimulation?
Ultrasound and TENS mostly provide temporary pain relief or warmth to the tissue. Softwave works differently — it actually triggers biological healing, helping new blood vessels form, inflammation resolve, and nerves regenerate.
What diagnoses does it treat?
💧 Incontinence
Can Softwave help with urinary leakage or urgency?
Yes. Research shows that Softwave can improve or eliminate urinary incontinence by improving the strength, thickness, and responsiveness of the pelvic floor and urethral tissues. It enhances local blood flow and activates stem cells, which help restore healthy tissue and muscle control.
How many sessions will I need?
Most patients see improvement after 3-6 sessions, depending on severity. Some notice reduced urgency and better control even sooner.
Is it invasive or internal?
No. Treatments are completely external — the applicator is placed on the skin over the pelvic region. You remain draped appropriately during treatment.
🌸 Pelvic Pain and Sexual Pain
What types of pelvic pain can Softwave help with?
Softwave can support healing for a range of conditions, including chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS), vulvodynia, vestibulodynia, vaginismus, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and pudendal neuralgia. It helps by calming nerve irritation, reducing muscle tension, and improving blood flow to the pelvic floor.
How does it relieve pain?
By modulating inflammation and stimulating the release of anti-inflammatory molecules, Softwave helps quiet overactive nerves and relax tight muscle tissue. Many patients describe it as a “reset” for irritated, painful tissue that finally allows healing to happen.
Is it combined with other treatments?
Yes. Softwave works beautifully alongside pelvic floor therapy, manual release, and/or exercise. It enhances the results of those treatments and can help patients progress more quickly.
Does the pain relief last?
Yes. The changes created in the tissues are from the source of the pain, not just treating the symptoms. When combined with strategies learned in pelvic floor therapy to manage whatever the original triggers were for your pain, you should experience lasting pain relief.
⚡ Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Can Softwave help with ED?
Yes. Softwave has strong research support for treating vascular (blood flow–related) erectile dysfunction.
The mechanical waves stimulate angiogenesis — the growth of new blood vessels — and improve nerve sensitivity and endothelial function, which are key to natural erections.
How many sessions do I need?
For ED, we typically recommend a series of 6–8 sessions, depending on the severity and underlying cause. Treatments are typically scheduled once per week. Milder cases often respond within 4–6 sessions; more chronic cases may take the full series.
Are the results long-lasting?
Yes. Unlike medication, which provides a short-term effect, Softwave encourages the body to repair itself — leading to longer-lasting improvement in blood flow and function.
Does it hurt or cause bruising?
No. The treatment is non-invasive and applied externally over the shaft, base, and perineal area. Most men feel only a light tapping sensation. Unlike some other types of shockwave devices, there’s no bruising, no recovery time, and no need for medication.
🧘 Other Conditions Softwave Can Help With
Softwave Therapy has also shown positive results for:
Overactive bladder
Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH)
Post-prostatectomy recovery
Chronic pelvic pain
Dyspareunia (pain with intercourse)
Persistent genital arousal disorder (PGAD)
Endometriosis-related pain
Tissue scarring and decreased mobility
Because it restores circulation, nerve function, and inflammation balance, it can be helpful for many localized pelvic and musculoskeletal conditions.
Logistics & What to expect
How is Softwave used during my session?
We offer Softwave in two ways:
Add-On Therapy: Added on during your standard 60-minute session. It doesn’t add extra time — it’s simply an additional tool to accelerate your healing.
Stand-Alone Treatment: A focused 15-minute session for targeted treatment areas.
For erectile dysfunction, Softwave is offered as a structured program of 6–8 stand-alone sessions, tailored to your needs.
What does the treatment feel like?
You may feel a gentle tapping or pulsing in the treated area. It’s typically not painful and can be adjusted for comfort. Most patients find it relaxing.
Is it invasive?
No. Softwave is completely external — no internal devices, needles, or injections.
Will I be sore afterward?
Most people feel fine immediately after treatment. A small percentage may feel mild tenderness or warmth for a few hours, but this is normal and short-lived.
Do I need to change anything before or after my session?
You don’t need to do anything special before or after treatment. We do recommend avoiding anti-inflammatory medications like NSAIDs for 24–48 hours before and after, since Softwave works by using your body’s natural inflammation signals.
💬 Is Softwave Right for Me?
If you’re not sure whether Softwave is a good fit, we can discuss your symptoms and goals during your next session or new patients can Contact Us to set up a complimentary 10 minute phone call to discuss your needs.
Together, we’ll decide whether adding it to your care plan—or starting a focused treatment series—could help you heal faster and feel better.