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The New Year brings a fresh start and renewed motivation to get active, but nothing dampens those good intentions faster than an old injury flaring up again. If you’ve felt old injury pain coming back just as you try to resume exercise or improve your health, you’re not alone. Maybe it’s a nagging shoulder pain from years ago or a surgically repaired knee that aches every January. We understand how frustrating it is to set health goals, only to be sidelined by recurring pain. In fact, discipline and consistency are crucial for long-term fitness success – and that means tackling those pain roadblocks head-on. In this article, we’ll show empathy for your struggle and explore why past injuries can come back to haunt you, what the latest research says about persistent pain, and how to enter the New Year with better movement and confidence instead of just wishful thinking.
(Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes. Always consult a licensed healthcare provider for personal medical advice. Individual results may vary.)
Old injuries have a way of sticking around – sometimes quietly for months or years, then suddenly causing pain when you least expect it. Why does this happen? The truth is that even after an injury heals, your body may continue to compensate for it. Scar tissue from a previous surgery or trauma can restrict mobility and alter how your muscles work, forcing other areas to take on extra stress. For example, an old ankle sprain might lead you to unconsciously favor one leg, eventually causing hip or back pain down the line. In other cases, the nervous system itself “remembers” the injury. Research shows that past injuries can prime the brain and nerves to remain on high alert, so later stress or triggers can reignite pain even without a new injury. This phenomenon – essentially a form of pain memory or sensitization – means that chronic pain isn’t always about new damage, but rather the body’s protective systems staying overactive.
Additionally, old injuries can lead to long-term changes in the injured tissues and joints. It’s well documented that a significant joint injury (like a ligament tear or fracture) greatly increases the risk of developing osteoarthritis years later. In fact, roughly 20–50% of people with a major joint trauma will show signs of arthritis in that joint, contributing to about 12% of all osteoarthritis cases. This post-traumatic wear-and-tear can manifest as stiffness, swelling, or pain that “comes back” during activities, especially as we age.
Lastly, lifestyle factors and the time of year can play a role. Cold weather and inactivity over the holiday season can tighten our muscles and joints, making old injury sites more prone to aching. We often see an influx of patients in the winter who report, “My old ___ injury is acting up again.” The combination of cooler temperatures (which increase joint stiffness) and suddenly ramping up activity in January can create the perfect storm for a flare-up.
The key takeaway: Pain from an old injury persists or returns when the underlying dysfunction wasn’t fully resolved. If we only treated the symptoms (e.g. resting until pain subsides) but never corrected the root cause – be it scar tissue, muscle imbalance, joint instability, or nerve sensitization – the pain can recur as soon as you challenge your body again. Understanding this is empowering: it means that by addressing the true cause, you can break the cycle and move better year-round.
Modern research offers both caution and hope when it comes to chronic or recurring pain. On one hand, studies underscore how complex persistent pain from old injuries can be. A 2025 study in Current Biology demonstrated that an earlier injury can “rewire” the nervous system to remain hypersensitive long after healing. In that study, mice that had recovered from an injury still showed exaggerated pain and fear responses to stress, suggesting the body’s alarm system stayed stuck in the “on” position. The culprit was a stress-hormone loop (involving cortisol) that kept the nervous system primed for danger. Translating that to humans: if you’ve had a significant injury or trauma, your body might overreact to new stresses (like sudden exercise or even emotional stress) with pain. It’s a protective mechanism gone overboard.
These insights into pain neuroscience highlight why chronic pain often requires a whole-body, nervous system-aware approach (not just treating one spot). Techniques that calm an over-sensitized nervous system – sometimes called neuromodulation – are gaining interest. Early evidence suggests that non-invasive therapies targeting the autonomic nervous system (such as NESA microcurrent stimulation) can reduce pain in chronic conditions by re-balancing the “fight or flight” response. Essentially, helping the body switch from a state of guarding and hypervigilance back to a state of normal regulation may ease pain intensity.
On the other hand, research strongly supports active rehabilitation and regenerative therapies for overcoming old injury pain. For instance, exercise and movement are repeatedly shown to be beneficial. A systematic review in the Spine Journal found that targeted exercise programs significantly improve chronic low back pain outcomes. Regular movement helps by strengthening supportive muscles, improving joint lubrication, and even reducing inflammation levels over time. The catch is, exercise has to be done correctly and consistently – which is tough if pain is holding you back. That’s where combining exercise with therapeutic interventions can make all the difference.
One promising treatment modality is extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), especially for lingering musculoskeletal pain. In fact, a meta-analysis of 12 randomized trials (632 patients) concluded that shockwave therapy provided significantly better pain relief and improved function in chronic low back pain compared to standard treatments, with no serious adverse effects. By about 12 weeks, patients who received shockwave reported markedly lower pain scores and disability indexes than those who didn’t. Similarly, another clinical trial focusing on chronic lower back pain showed that adding radial shockwave treatments to a rehab exercise program produced greater long-term pain reduction than exercise alone.
Shockwave therapy works through mechanotransduction – in simple terms, using sound wave pulses to stimulate biological healing processes in the body. Research has shown shockwaves can break down scar tissue adhesions, increase local blood flow, promote new blood vessel formation, and even trigger stem cell activity for tissue repair. This is particularly relevant for old injuries where scar tissue and poor circulation might be preventing full healing. For example, studies have documented success using shockwave to treat chronic tendinopathies and even encourage bone healing in stubborn stress fractures. All of this evidence reinforces that we are not powerless against recurring pain – the body has the capacity to heal and adapt, especially with the right therapeutic input.
Finally, let’s touch on post-traumatic arthritis, since many people worry that “old injury pain” coming back means arthritis has set in. It’s true that injuries predispose us to osteoarthritis; one review noted that a history of joint injury makes you substantially more likely to develop arthritis, and at a younger age than average. But “arthritis” is not a life sentence of pain. There are plenty of cases of folks with terrible-looking X-rays who feel fine, and vice versa. Pain is more about dysfunction than degeneration. Even if some arthritis is present, improving how the joint moves and reducing excess strain can significantly control pain. So, while we use imaging and diagnoses to inform us, they don’t get the final say – your daily function and pain levels can improve with a comprehensive plan.
In summary, the science says that old injuries may plant the seed for chronic pain, but with emerging treatments and a holistic approach, you can retrain your body to move past the pain. Next, we’ll discuss how we apply these insights at Unpain Clinic to help patients finally break free from the cycle of re-injury and relapse.
At Unpain Clinic, our mantra is to treat the cause, not just the symptoms. When a patient comes in saying their old injury pain is coming back every time they try to be active, we dig deep to find out why. We analyze movement patterns, past injuries, and how your muscles and nerves are communicating, to pinpoint the real source of pain. Then we create a personalized plan which often includes a combination of cutting-edge modalities and hands-on care. Here are some of the evidence-informed treatments we may use:
1. True Shockwave Therapy (Focused Shockwave): We are leaders in shockwave therapy, and for good reason. Shockwave uses acoustic waves to stimulate healing in damaged or stuck tissues. It can help by breaking up internal scar tissue, reducing nerve sensitivity, and kickstarting a fresh healing response. For example, if you have adhesions from an old surgery or injury that limit your mobility, shockwave can “unstick” those tissues and restore range of motion. It also increases blood circulation to areas that have poor flow (like degenerative tendons or deep joint capsules). Studies have shown shockwave therapy can significantly reduce chronic pain and improve function in conditions like chronic back pain and tendinopathy. Many patients even report feeling some relief after the first session as tight tissues start to release. (Internal anecdote: In one Unpain Clinic YouTube episode, a patient with chronic shoulder pain saw noticeable improvement in pain and mobility after only three shockwave sessions!*). Shockwave is non-invasive and sessions are relatively quick, making it a cornerstone of our approach to old injuries.
2.EMTT (Extracorporeal Magnetotransduction Therapy): EMTT is a newer modality that uses high-frequency electromagnetic pulses to promote tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation. Think of it as a super-charged form of PEMF therapy. EMTT can penetrate deep (up to ~18 cm) into the body, reaching areas like hip joints or spine segments that other treatments struggle to target. Clinical research is very promising: a 2018 RCT of 86 patients with rotator cuff injuries found that adding EMTT to shockwave therapy led to significantly greater pain reduction and functional improvement than shockwave alone. In another trial, patients with chronic low back pain who received EMTT plus conventional physiotherapy had better pain and disability outcomes than those with physio alone. EMTT works at a cellular level – studies indicate it can enhance the activity of bone cells and tendon cells, supporting faster healing. For our patients, EMTT often translates to feeling an increase in “lightness” or ease of movement after sessions. It’s painless and sessions take only about 15–20 minutes, making it an excellent complement to shockwave in stubborn, deep-seated old injuries.
3.Neuromodulation (NESA® Therapy): Pain isn’t just about muscles and bones – the nervous system plays a huge role. NESA is a gentle form of electrical stimulation that targets the autonomic nervous system (the part responsible for fight-or-flight and rest-and-digest). By applying extremely low currents via pads on the skin, we aim to calm down overactive nerves and rebalance the system. This can reduce hypersensitivity and break the cycle of pain signals firing nonstop. Neuromodulation is especially helpful for chronic pain that involves nerve irritation or when stress is a big contributor (think of that wound-up, tense feeling your body holds onto after an injury). While still relatively new, NESA therapy and similar techniques have shown effectiveness in conditions like fibromyalgia and neuropathic pain, and they are very safe. Patients often report improved sleep, relaxation, and a general reduction in pain after a few sessions – as if their “nerves have chilled out.”
4. Manual Therapy: Our physiotherapists and chiropractors are highly skilled in hands-on techniques. Manual therapy can include joint mobilizations (to gently improve a stiff joint’s motion), soft tissue therapy and myofascial release (to relax tight muscles or fascia), and even spinal or limb adjustments when appropriate. For example, if an old shoulder injury is causing altered movement, we might find the shoulder blade isn’t moving freely. Hands-on mobilization of the shoulder and shoulder blade can reduce impingement and pain. Manual techniques can also relieve muscular trigger points (“knots”) that formed as the body’s compensation pattern. While manual therapy alone might not permanently fix a deeply rooted issue, it provides relief and prepares the body for better movement. We always combine it with active rehab so that the improvements stick.
5.Targeted Exercise & Movement Retraining: No rehabilitation plan is complete without exercise. We prescribe specific corrective exercises to address the weaknesses or imbalances underlying your pain. For instance, if recurring knee pain stems from old ligament damage and poor hip stability, we’ll focus on glute and core strengthening to better support that knee. If a previous back injury left you with limited rotation, we’ll work on gentle spinal mobility and hip flexibility. There is robust evidence that exercise improves chronic pain outcomes – one study found targeted exercise significantly reduced chronic back pain and disability. The key is that it must be the right exercise: often people either do nothing (for fear of pain) or do random workouts that don’t address the issue. At Unpain Clinic, we coach you on proper form and gradually progress your program. We might also incorporate movement pattern training, like teaching you how to lift, bend, or run with better biomechanics so that the old injury isn’t continually aggravated. Our motto is “motion is lotion” – movement, when done correctly, can heal.
Each of these treatments is powerful on its own, but their real strength is in combination. For example, a patient with an old ankle injury causing chronic hip pain might receive shockwave to break down scar tissue in the ankle, EMTT to reduce inflammation and promote healing, manual therapy to improve joint mobility, and exercises to strengthen their glutes and improve balance. This one-two punch (or rather, five-fold approach!) addresses the problem from every angle: healing the tissues, retraining the body, and calming the nervous system. By using a whole-body approach, we often succeed where isolated treatments failed. Most importantly, we focus on why it hurts, not just where it hurts – a philosophy you’ll experience from Day 1 at your Initial Assessment.
(Internal Note: Many patients come to us after trying “everything” elsewhere, still in pain. We’ve had clients avoid surgeries because our approach fixed the root cause. While we can’t guarantee outcomes, our aim is always long-term relief, not short-lived fixes. Results vary, but we’ve seen life-changing improvements by following the evidence and tailoring it to the individual.)*
Let’s look at a real-world example (name changed for privacy) of how addressing old injuries can restore movement. Meet John, a 45-year-old former hockey player who came to Unpain Clinic in early January. Every New Year, John vowed to get back in shape, but each time he started jogging or hitting the gym, he’d be stopped by pain in his right knee and lower back. He mentioned an old ACL tear in that knee from his twenties and occasional back spasms. This past year, the cycle repeated: he tried a holiday fitness challenge, and within weeks that familiar knee ache and back pain were back with a vengeance, forcing him to quit.
John arrived frustrated and skeptical, saying “I guess I’m just getting older, and my old injuries won’t let me do what I want.” During his Initial Assessment, our therapist found some interesting clues: John’s right knee had subtle instability and scar tissue from the ACL surgery, his right hip was weaker than the left, and his lumbar spine (lower back) was very stiff in one direction. We also noticed an old surgical scar on his abdomen from an appendix removal. John was floored when we explained how these pieces might connect. His abdominal scar was causing fascial tightness pulling on his hip and back (yes, an appendectomy scar can affect your hip flexors!). His weak hip and residual knee instability meant his back was overworking to compensate when he ran, leading to back pain.
Treatment plan: We started with focused shockwave therapy on the knee and surrounding tissues to break down scar tissue and stimulate healing in the old ligament. We also used shockwave and manual therapy on the thickened scar on his abdomen to improve its elasticity (patients are often surprised that treating a decades-old scar can relieve tension – but it can!). Next, we added EMTT sessions to decrease inflammation in his knee joint and to bio-stimulate the healing process at the cellular level. John described feeling a gentle warmth and noted his knee “felt looser” after EMTT. Neuromodulation therapy (NESA) was applied in a couple of sessions to help reset his nervous system’s pain response; after one such session he reported sleeping better and feeling “more balanced,” which is common when the autonomic nervous system calms down.
Crucially, John was an active participant in his recovery. We coached him through a series of exercises: glute strengthening, single-leg balance drills, and core stability work. We also taught him better form for squatting and bending, to take strain off his back. Within four treatment sessions over about 5 weeks, John experienced dramatic improvements. He said, “My knee hasn’t swollen up after my last two runs, and my back hasn’t spasmed at all. I’m actually excited to exercise now.” By addressing the hidden dysfunctions – the scar restrictions, muscle imbalances, and joint mechanics – we broke John’s cycle of re-injury. At a 3-month follow-up, he reported he was consistently doing strength workouts and short runs with minimal pain. If he ever felt a twinge, he knew which stretches or exercises to do, and it never reached the “full-blown” pain of before.
This story illustrates a common theme: once you identify and treat the real cause, old injuries lose their grip on you. John’s case involved a knee and back, but the same principles apply whether it’s a recurring shoulder issue, a neck that “goes out” due to past whiplash, or any other chronic nagging pain. We’ve seen former athletes in their 50s regain mobility they thought was long gone, or busy parents finally able to play with their kids without the old pain flaring up. Everyone’s journey is unique, but these outcomes show what’s possible with the right approach. (Remember, individual results vary, and we always set realistic goals with our patients.)
While professional treatment is important, what you do day-to-day at home can make a huge difference in preventing old injury pain from coming back. We empower our clients with at-home strategies to maintain the progress and stay pain-free. Here are some general tips we often recommend:
Warm Up and Stretch (Even in the Morning): Old injuries tend to flare up when you go from inactivity to intense activity too quickly. If you have a sensitive joint or muscle group, do a gentle warm-up first. For example, if you have an old lower back injury, try pelvic tilts or knee-to-chest stretches in bed each morning before you fully get up. This can warm the synovial fluid in your joints and ease stiffness. Likewise, before a workout, spend 5–10 minutes on dynamic stretches targeting your problem areas (arm circles for an old shoulder injury, leg swings for a knee, etc.). Warm muscles and mobilized joints are less prone to pain.
Use Heat (and Cold) Wisely: Heat can be your best friend for chronic injury spots, especially in cold weather. Applying a heating pad or hot water bottle to a stiff area for 10 minutes can relax muscles and improve blood flow, making movement easier. For instance, putting heat on a creaky knee or tight back in the morning or before exercise often reduces that initial pain. Save ice packs for any acute swelling or after a high-intensity effort if needed, but generally chronic pains respond well to warmth.
Stay Mobile – Frequent Motion is Lotion: Instead of sitting or lying down for long periods, try to introduce gentle movement “snacks” throughout your day. Our bodies crave motion. If you have a history of back or neck pain, set a timer to stand up and stretch every hour. Roll your shoulders, twist gently side to side, or take a quick walk down the hall. These micro-breaks prevent stiffness from setting in and keep blood circulating to your healing tissues. One client with an old shoulder injury made a habit of doing 10 wall push-ups every 2 hours at work – it kept her shoulder mobile and actually improved her strength over time.
Practice Good Posture and Ergonomics: Often, the way we sit, sleep, and move in daily life can aggravate an old injury. Pay attention to your posture during common activities. If you have an old lower back disc issue, for example, avoid long periods of slouched sitting – use a lumbar support cushion and keep your hips slightly above your knees when seated. For a previous neck/shoulder injury, ensure your work setup is ergonomic (screen at eye level, chair supporting your spine, etc.). Little adjustments like these reduce unnecessary strain on vulnerable areas.
Do Your “Homework” Exercises: We know exercises given by your therapist aren’t always fun – but they are truly the secret sauce in maintaining your progress. Set aside 10–15 minutes a day to do the customized stretches or strengthening moves recommended for you. Consistency is key. If balance or stability is an issue from your old injury, something as simple as practicing standing on one leg while brushing your teeth can train those muscles (just do it safely, maybe near a counter to hold). Those who commit to their home exercise program inevitably have better, longer-lasting results than those who only rely on in-clinic treatments.
Listen to Your Body (but Don’t Fear It): Finally, adopt a mindset of body awareness. If you feel that familiar pain twinge, don’t ignore it – but also don’t panic. Often it’s a signal to modify what you’re doing, not to give up entirely. Maybe you need an extra rest day, or to apply the above tips, or to revisit your physiotherapist for a tweak in your program. By catching small pain signals early and responding (with stretching, rest, or a tune-up treatment), you can prevent a full-blown setback. Remember, some muscle soreness or achiness when getting back to exercise is normal and even expected; distinguish that from the specific sharp pain of your old injury. We encourage patients to keep a simple pain journal when restarting activity – jot down what you did and how you felt after. Patterns in this journal can help us adjust your plan effectively.
These at-home guidelines, combined with professional care, create a powerful synergy. Our goal is to make you the driver of your own recovery, with us as the navigators. By implementing these daily habits, you’ll support your body’s healing, build resilience, and enter the New Year (and each season after) moving better than you have in a long time.
Old injuries can haunt you because of leftover issues like scar tissue, altered movement patterns, or nerve sensitivity. Even after the tissue “heals,” your body may develop compensations – for example, limping or avoiding certain motions – that over time cause pain in the original spot or even elsewhere. Also, injuries can create chronic inflammation or wear-and-tear (like early arthritis) in the area, which might not bother you until you stress that joint again. Essentially, if the root cause wasn’t fully fixed, the pain can return when conditions line up (such as increased activity, cold weather, or new stress on the body).
First, stop and assess. Don’t push through sharp pain. Apply basic first aid if needed – for instance, if your old ankle injury swells after a run, elevate and ice it. In the short term, gentle motion (pain-free range) is often better than complete rest, to keep the area from stiffening up. Use the tips we mentioned: add heat if it feels stiff, do a light warm-up before your next attempt, and maybe modify your activity (reduce intensity or duration) for a bit. Most importantly, if a flare-up happens, it’s a sign to consult a professional. A physiotherapist can determine why it’s flaring and treat the underlying issue (be it tight tissue, weakness, etc.). Don’t just mask the pain with painkillers and continue – that could worsen the problem. Address it early, and you’ll bounce back quicker.
Absolutely – we see this often. Scar tissue isn’t just on the surface; underneath, it can tether layers of muscle or fascia together abnormally. This can restrict movement and even pull your body out of alignment. For example, an old C-section or appendectomy scar can contribute to back or hip pain years later by changing how your core muscles fire. Nerve tissue can also be affected by scars – sometimes nerves get trapped in the fibrous tissue, leading to pain or strange sensations around the scar. If you notice pain, tightness, or tingling near an old surgical site, it could very well be the scar’s influence. Treatments like shockwave therapy or specialized scar massage can help soften internal scar tissue and often relieve these long-term issues.
In general, it’s never too late. Whether your injury happened 3 months ago or 30 years ago, your body maintains an incredible ability to adapt and heal when given the right stimulus. We treat seniors with decades-old injuries who still improve their mobility and pain levels. The healing process might be slower for an older injury (and older bodies), but improvements are possible at any age. That said, chronic issues can be complex – they often affect multiple areas – so it’s wise to seek a practitioner who looks at the whole picture. Even if we can’t make your body exactly like it was pre-injury, we aim for meaningful gains: less pain, more strength, better function. In short, don’t give up on an old injury; with today’s therapies (from regenerative options to targeted exercise), there’s a good chance we can help you feel and move better.
Most people find shockwave therapy very tolerable. The treatment involves a hand-held device delivering pulsating sound waves to the affected area. You’ll feel a series of rapid “taps” or pulses. It can be a bit uncomfortable over very tight or scarred tissues – kind of like a deep massage feeling – but it typically isn’t described as painful. The intensity is adjustable, and your therapist will communicate with you throughout. Any discomfort usually lasts only seconds during the pulse application and stops immediately when the treatment pauses. After a session, you might feel sore in the treated area, similar to having exercised that spot. This soreness is usually mild and temporary, resolving within a day or two. In fact, many clients report feeling relief and looser movement right after shockwave, since it often reduces muscle tension.
It depends on the condition, but a typical course is about 3 sessions of true shockwave therapy for a given issue. We space these about 1–2 weeks apart to allow your body’s regenerative processes to kick in between sessions. After 3 sessions, we usually have a 4–6 week healing period with no shockwave, during which your body continues to repair (studies show increased blood vessel growth and tissue healing occur in this window). Many patients experience significant improvement after those 3 treatments. In some stubborn or very chronic cases, a 4th session is done after the healing period if residual symptoms remain. For simpler issues (say a straightforward tendinitis caught early), sometimes 1–2 sessions do the trick. Your therapist will tailor the plan to your progress. Remember, we treat the condition’s root cause – sometimes if multiple areas contribute to your pain, we might treat more than one area in the same session (at Unpain Clinic, we don’t charge per body part; we address all relevant areas in the session). But rest assured, you won’t be coming for endless sessions – shockwave’s goal is to trigger healing relatively quickly so you can get back to living your life.
Shockwave therapy is non-invasive, so there’s no real “downtime” like you’d have after surgery. You can walk out of the clinic and continue with most of your daily activities. The main side effect is that the treated area can feel achy or sore for a short time afterward. This is a normal response as the therapy stimulates an inflammatory healing reaction (think of it like how muscles can be sore after a good workout – in fact, shockwave can activate muscle fibers that were not working properly, leading to a DOMS-like soreness). Any soreness typically subsides within 24–48 hours. We actually consider mild soreness a sign that the body is responding appropriately. It’s also not unusual to feel improvement in one area and then notice a different area feels sore the next day – this often means your body is adjusting its movement patterns (for example, after your hip releases, you might “feel” your lower back more for a day because now you’re using those muscles differently). We provide every new client with a “What to Expect After Treatment” handout that explains these normal reactions. Adverse effects are rare; on occasion, there might be mild bruising or redness on the skin if you’re very sensitive, but this is transient. There are a few contraindications to be aware of: we avoid using shockwave over areas with active cancer, infection, or in pregnancy, and we don’t apply it directly over a blood clot (DVT). Your therapist will review your medical history to ensure safety. Overall, shockwave is considered a safe and low-risk therapy used worldwide for chronic pain.
Old injury pain can feel like that unwelcome guest who shows up just when you’re ready to celebrate a fresh start. But as we’ve explored, it doesn’t have to be this way. By understanding why pain from past injuries comes back – whether due to hidden scar tissue, compensation patterns, or an overly sensitized nervous system – you’ve taken the first step toward breaking the cycle. Evidence-based treatments like shockwave therapy, EMTT, and tailored exercise can address those root causes, while good habits and posture can keep you moving well all year. The New Year is a time of hope and positive change. With the right approach, you can enter this year not only with good intentions, but with better movement and confidence that your old injuries won’t hold you back. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey. Our Unpain Clinic team is here to guide you with warmth, expertise, and a whole-body focus.
So go ahead – set those goals, envision the active life you want, and take that first step. Your body has an incredible capacity to heal and adapt. With a bit of help uncovering “why it hurts” and a personalized game plan to fix it, you truly can say goodbye to that old pain and hello to a healthier, happier you in the year ahead.
Book Your Initial Assessment NowAt Unpain Clinic, we don’t just ask “Where does it hurt?” — we uncover “Why does it hurt?”
If you’ve been frustrated by the cycle of “try everything, feel nothing,” this assessment is for you. We take a whole-body approach so you leave with clarity, not more questions.
✅ What’s Included
Comprehensive history & goal setting
Orthopedic & muscle testing (head-to-toe)
Motion analysis
Imaging decisions (if needed)
Pain pattern mapping
Personalized treatment roadmap
Benefit guidance
🕑 Important Details
60 minutes, assessment only
No treatment in this visit
👩⚕️ Who You’ll See
A licensed Registered Physiotherapist or Chiropractor
🔜 What Happens Next
If you’re a fit, we schedule your first treatment and start executing your plan.
🌟 Why Choose Unpain Clinic
Whole-body assessment, not symptom-chasing
Root-cause focus, not temporary relief
Non-invasive where possible
No long-term upsells — just honest, effective care
🎯 Outcome
You’ll walk out knowing:
What’s wrong
Why it hurts
The fastest path to fix it
Author: Uran Berisha, BSc PT, RMT, Shockwave Expert
1. Martin et al., 2025 – Past injury priming the nervous system. Current Biology. Study showed old injuries can leave the nervous system hypersensitive, causing exaggerated pain responses to new stressneurosciencenews.comneurosciencenews.com.
2. Walewicz et al., 2019 – RCT on shockwave for chronic low back pain. Found shockwave + exercise yielded greater long-term pain relief and functional improvement than exercise alonepubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
3. Yuan et al., 2023 – Systematic review and meta-analysis of ESWT for chronic low back pain. Concluded shockwave therapy provided significantly better pain relief and improved lumbar function vs. controls at 4 and 12 weeks, with no serious adverse effectspmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.govpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
4. Punzi et al., 2016 – Review on post-traumatic arthritis. Noted that 20–50% of patients with a joint injury develop OA, accounting for ~12% of all OA cases; risk increases with age and time since injurypmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
5.Facet Joint Syndrome – Unpain Clinic (2023) – Unpain Clinic blog/podcast on facet joint pain in cold weather. Emphasized how cold + inactivity stiffen joints, and listed treatments including shockwave, EMTT, NESA, etc., with clinical observationsunpainclinic.comunpainclinic.com.
6. Lower Back Pain Podcast – Unpain Clinic (Episode #7) – Uran Berisha explains that chronic back pain often stems from hidden causes like old surgery scars or past injuries causing compensation, rather than just “disc issues” on MRIunpainclinic.comunpainclinic.com.
7. Cornwall Physio, 2018 – Summary of Klüter et al. 2018 RCT. 86 patients with rotator cuff tendinopathy showed that adding EMTT to shockwave led to greater pain and function improvement at 24 weeks vs. shockwave with sham EMTTcornwallphysio.co.ukcornwallphysio.co.uk. Also referenced Krath & Gerdesmeyer 2017, where EMTT + conventional therapy improved low back pain more than conventional therapy alonecornwallphysio.co.uk.
8. Unpain Clinic FAQ – Common questions about shockwave therapy answered by Unpain Clinic (2025)unpainclinic.comunpainclinic.com. This resource clarifies that shockwave is generally not painful, most patients need ~3 sessions with a healing period, and mild soreness post-treatment is normalunpainclinic.com.
