Shockwave + Manual PT for Shoulder Arthritis: Back to Pickleball
Wayne Villeneuve, MSPT | Living Well Center for Integrative Health – Essex Junction, VT
Patient: 47-year-old recreational pickleball player from Underhill
Primary concern: Shoulder arthritis limiting sleep and overhead movement
The Challenge
Shoulder arthritis was interrupting sleep and making overhead motions painful. The patient wanted to return to pickleball without relying on an injection.
Assessment & Integrated Plan Wayne combined:
Shockwave therapy to address soft-tissue irritability and promote healing
Manual physical therapy for joint mobility and muscle balance
Coordinated chiropractic care to support shoulder and thoracic mechanics
Outcomes That Mattered
Reduced pain that previously limited sleep
Improved overhead function
Returned to recreational pickleball with significantly less discomfort
Avoided the need for an injection
Why This Worked
Addressing both the arthritic joint irritation and the surrounding soft-tissue and movement patterns allowed the patient to regain function without more invasive options.
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