The world’s only ISMST-certified online course
Online Shockwave Therapy Course ISMST Certification
Build your understanding of patient selection, treatment parameters and safety in focused Extracorporeal ShockWave Therapy (ESWT) and radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPWT). Study at your own pace with clinical modules, treatment demonstrations and an indication-specific protocol library, and gain your official ISMST certification.
€599 including VAT · Approximately 13 hours · 12 months of access
Course at a glance
14modules, from shockwave physics to ten clinical indication areas
~13 hself-paced study, 100 % online, on any device
€599one-time, VAT included · 12 months of access
1 yrISMST membership included with the course for new members.
Audience
Who this shockwave therapy training is for
This ESWT course is designed for physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals, including physiotherapists and chiropractors where legally eligible, who use extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or are adopting it, in musculoskeletal, sports and regenerative medicine, in wound care and dermatology, and in aesthetic medicine and scar treatment. It is relevant to clinicians in orthopaedics, trauma surgery, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, physiotherapy, dermatology, and plastic and aesthetic surgery.
It suits clinicians who are new to ESWT as well as those refining an established practice. The modules can be taken in any order, so experienced users can go straight to the indications they treat.
Learning outcomes
What you’ll learn
By the end of the course you will be able to:
Explain how shock waves are generated and propagate, and distinguish focused shock waves from radial pressure waves in their physics and clinical use.
Describe the biological mechanisms behind ESWT, from mechanotransduction and angiogenesis to modulation of inflammation, and how well established each mechanism is.
Select energy flux density, impulse count, frequency and session intervals to match tissue depth, chronicity and the biological state of the tissue.
Apply evidence-based protocols across ten indication areas, from tendinopathies, bone and osteoarthritis to back pain, wounds, aesthetics and scars.
Recognise red flags, contraindications and do-not-treat scenarios, and screen every patient systematically before planning the first treatment session.
Integrate ESWT with rehabilitation and loading programmes, plan follow-up, and manage patients who do not respond to the initial treatment.
Course format
How the course works
Case-based modules
Organised around clinical decision-making, with flowcharts, decision trees and red-flag scenarios.
Interactive activities
Knowledge checks, image sliders and hotspots, review cards and timelines.
Treatment videos
VR-recorded treatment videos that show applicator positioning and energy propagation in the tissue.
Protocol & Parameter Library
Indication-specific reference sheets with energy flux density, impulse counts, frequency, number of sessions and intervals, and patient-selection criteria, based on ISMST guidance.
Technology-neutral
Covers electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric and radial (ballistic) devices.
Evidence levels. Study the evidence behind each indication, including the distinction between established, empirically tested, expert and experimental applications. Coverage of an indication does not imply the same level of evidence or endorsement.
Datasheet
Key facts
Everything about the course in one place: format, assessment, certificate, access and price.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Course | Online Shockwave Certification Course |
| Certifying society | International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST) |
| Recognition | The only ISMST-certified online course worldwide |
| Audience | Physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals who are legally permitted to perform focused shockwave therapy where they practise |
| Technologies covered | Focused Extracorporeal Shockwaves (electrohydraulic, electromagnetic and piezoelectric) and Radial Pressure Waves |
| Format | 100 % online and self-paced, on any device with a web browser |
| Workload | Approx. 13 hours |
| Content | 14 modules: shockwave physics, clinical application and mechanism of action, then 10 clinical indication modules; 122 lesson pages |
| Assessment | Knowledge checks in every module; final exam of 50 multiple-choice questions |
| Certificate | ISMST online certificate, issued and sent to you by the ISMST |
| Validity and verification | ISMST certificate valid for 2 years from the date of issue, with a QR code for verification |
| Included | 12 months of access; ESWT Treatment Protocol & Parameter Library; a free one-year ISMST membership after successful completion (opt-out) |
| Languages | English; also available in Portuguese |
| Price | €599 one-time payment, VAT included; no subscription |
Curriculum
Explore the 14 course modules
This shockwave therapy training course is organised in two phases: foundations (modules 2–4) and clinical indications (modules 5–14), with ICD-10 codes for each indication. Modules 2 to 14 are each co-authored or validated by a member of the faculty.
Introduction
Module 01 Course Introduction
How the course works, your ISMST certifiers, the evidence base of the course, and the history, guidelines and community of the ISMST.
Phase 1 · Foundations
Module 02 Physical Principles of Shockwaves
Wave parameters, how shock waves form and propagate, pressure fields and cavitation, and the four ways clinical devices generate them: electrohydraulic, electromagnetic, piezoelectric and ballistic (radial).
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Cyrill Slezak, Ph.D.
Module 03 Basic Principles of Shockwave Application
The clinical pathway from indication to first session: the ISMST classification levels (approved, common empirically tested clinical uses, expert/exceptional, experimental), diagnostic work-up and imaging, contraindication screening, patient education and consent, and documentation.
Co-authored and validated by Dr. José Eid, M.D.
Module 04 Mechanism of Action
How physical energy becomes a biological response: from the lithotripsy origins of ESWT to mechanotransduction, purinergic signalling, angiogenesis, modulation of inflammation, progenitor-cell recruitment and extracellular vesicles, and how well established each mechanism is.
Co-authored and validated by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden, M.D.
Phase 2 · Clinical indications
Module 05 Shoulder Tendinopathies
Radiological assessment of calcific deposits, focused and radial protocols, patient selection and treatment planning.
- calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy (main focus) ICD-10 M75.3
- non-calcific tendinopathy ICD-10 M75.1
- adhesive capsulitis ICD-10 M75.0
- complex shoulder presentations
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Ludger Gerdesmeyer, M.D.
Module 06 Elbow, Wrist and Hand Indications
Anatomy, clinical presentation, evidence and treatment planning for the upper limb.
- lateral epicondylopathy ICD-10 M77.1
- medial epicondylopathy ICD-10 M77.0
- trigger finger ICD-10 M65.3
- carpal tunnel syndrome ICD-10 G56.0
- Dupuytren’s disease ICD-10 M72.0
- De Quervain’s tenosynovitis ICD-10 M65.4
- Kienböck’s disease ICD-10 M93.1
Co-authored and validated by Dr. Sergej Thiele, M.D. and Prof. Karsten Knobloch, M.D.
Module 07 Plantar Fasciitis and Foot
Diagnosis, patient selection, choosing between focused ESWT and radial pressure waves, treatment parameters, follow-up and managing non-response.
- chronic plantar fasciitis (plantar heel pain) ICD-10 M72.2
Co-authored and validated by Dr. Sergej Thiele, M.D.
Module 08 Achilles Tendinopathy
Tendon biology, focused versus radial treatment, combination with loading-based rehabilitation, refractory cases and long-term evidence.
- midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy ICD-10 M76.6
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Karsten Knobloch, M.D.
Module 09 Patellar Tendinopathy
Focused versus radial treatment, patient selection and combination therapy in athletes and active patients.
- patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee) ICD-10 M76.5
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Carlos Leal, M.D.
Module 10 Bone Indications
High-energy focused shock waves for bone healing, how they differ from low-energy soft-tissue treatment, case reports and quality-of-life outcomes.
- delayed union ICD-10 M84.2
- non-union ICD-10 M84.1
- complicated fractures
- avascular necrosis ICD-10 M87
Co-authored and validated by Priv.-Doz. Rainer Mittermayr, M.D.
Module 11 Knee and Osteoarthritis
Focused versus radial application, targeting subchondral bone versus cartilage, comparison with injections and surgery, and clinical examples.
- knee osteoarthritis ICD-10 M17
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Carlos Leal, M.D.
Module 12 Low Back Pain / Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Diagnostic criteria and examination, focused and radial protocols, integration into multimodal care, and outcome measurement.
- myofascial pain syndrome and trigger points ICD-10 M79.1
- chronic low back pain ICD-10 M54.5
Co-authored and validated by Dr. Sergej Thiele, M.D.
Module 13 Skin Indications
Wound classification, preparation for treatment, treatment, and comorbidities that modify healing.
- diabetic foot ulcers ICD-10 E10–E14 .5, L97
- venous ulcers ICD-10 I83.0
- arterial ulcers ICD-10 I70.2
- pressure ulcers ICD-10 L89
- burns ICD-10 T20–T32
Co-authored and validated by Dr. Wolfgang Schaden, M.D.
Module 14 Aesthetics and Scars
Collagen remodelling as the main mechanism, protocols, patient selection and managing expectations.
- scars ICD-10 L90.5
- cellulite
- skin laxity
- stretch marks ICD-10 L90.6
- facial rejuvenation
- filler-related complications (exploratory)
Co-authored and validated by Prof. Karsten Knobloch, M.D.
Faculty
Developed with internationally recognized shockwave experts
Dr. Wolfgang Schaden, M.D.
Trauma surgeon
Initiated the first clinical ESWT studies in 1993 and led the first outpatient clinic dedicated to shockwave therapy at the AUVA Trauma Center Vienna-Meidling, Austria.
President of the ISMST
Prof. Karsten Knobloch, M.D.
Plastic, hand and sports surgeon
Board-certified in sports medicine, plastic surgery and hand surgery in Germany, and former President of DIGEST, the German-speaking shockwave society.
Vice President of the ISMST
Prof. Carlos Leal, M.D.
Orthopedic surgeon
Practises in Bogotá, Colombia (Universidad El Bosque; Fenway Medical Regenerative Orthopedics Institute) and is President of the Hispano-American Association of Football Medicine.
Scientific Secretary and Past President of the ISMST
Dr. José Eid, M.D.
Orthopedic surgeon
Dr. José Eid, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in knee surgery and shockwave regenerative treatment. He currently serves as an Assistant in the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology at Hospital do Coração (HCor) – Associação Beneficente Síria in São Paulo, Brazil. He has served as Secretary General of the ISMST since 2015 and is currently serving a term through 2027. Dr. Eid is also the founder and former President of the Brazilian Medical Shockwave Society.
His international clinical experience includes appointments at Kantonsspital Bruderholz in Basel, Switzerland, and the Orthopädische Klinik Rummelsberg in Schwarzenbruck, Germany, from 1990 to 1991. Prior to this, he worked as an Assistant Physician in Knee Surgery at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo from 1989 to 1990. He completed his medical residency in Orthopedics and Traumatology at Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo between 1985 and 1988.
General Secretary of the ISMST
Priv.-Doz. Rainer Mittermayr, M.D.
Trauma surgeon
Runs the shock wave outpatient clinic at the AUVA Trauma Center Vienna-Meidling and is group leader at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology.
Treasurer of the ISMST (President in 2012)
LinkedIn · ORCID · ResearchGate · LBI Trauma
Prof. Ludger Gerdesmeyer, M.D.
Orthopedic surgeon
Based in Kiel, Germany, and principal investigator of randomized controlled trials on ESWT for plantar fasciitis and calcific shoulder tendinopathy.
Business Coordinator of the ISMST
Prof. Cyrill Slezak, Ph.D.
Physicist
Professor of Physics at Utah Valley University and research group leader at the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology in Vienna.
Scientific and didactic lead of the course
LinkedIn · ORCID · ResearchGate · LBI Trauma
The certifying society
About the ISMST & 1 Year free membership
The society was founded on 12 September 1997 in Vienna as the European Society for Musculoskeletal ESWT (ESMST), with representatives from eight European countries. It was renamed the International Society for Musculoskeletal ESWT in London in 1999 and, at the 2007 annual meeting in Toronto, the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment, reflecting a scope that now reaches beyond orthopedics to dermatology, cardiology and veterinary medicine. Today it has hundreds of members from more than 50 countries.
Its mission rests on integrity, inclusiveness and excellence: bridging scientific research and clinical practice so that patients benefit from evidence-based ESWT protocols. A Managing Board, a Scientific Advisory Board and a Board of Senators govern the society, and members follow its Compliance Guideline and Code of Conduct.
Website: shockwavetherapy.org
Participants who complete the online course and wish to become new ISMST members are eligible for one year of free ISMST membership.
Certification
The certificate
Participants who successfully pass the final exam receive an official ISMST certificate, issued and sent to them by the ISMST, valid for two years from the date of issue and featuring a QR code for easy verification.
The certificate confirms successful completion of a structured educational programme but does not grant a licence or authorisation to perform shockwave therapy. The right to practise is determined by the applicable laws and regulations in your country or region, while recognition of the certificate depends on your professional body and local regulatory requirements.
- Issued and sent by the ISMST
- Valid for 2 years
- QR verification
- Free one-year ISMST membership
Who can take this shockwave therapy course?
This course and certification are open to physicians and to other licensed healthcare professionals who are legally permitted to perform focused shockwave therapy in the country or region where they practise, including physiotherapists, chiropractors and podiatrists where this applies. When you sign up, you confirm that you meet these requirements; WaveVision may ask for evidence of your credentials before the certificate is issued.
When can I start?
Right away. Access starts as soon as you enrol and lasts 12 months. The course is self-paced, so you can start, pause and continue whenever it suits you.
How long does the shockwave therapy course take?
The course takes approximately 13 hours of study. It is self-paced: you can work through the 14 modules in any order and return to them as often as you like during your 12 months of access.
How much does the course cost, and can I pay from outside Europe?
The course costs €599 as a one-time payment, VAT included. The price covers 12 months of access, the final exam and the certificate. There is no subscription; access ends automatically after 12 months. The course is available worldwide, for example in the US, the UK, Canada and Australia, and the price is charged in euros; your card issuer converts it into your currency.
Is there a final exam?
Yes. The final exam has 50 multiple-choice questions, a pass mark of 66 % (33 of 50) and a time limit of 120 minutes, and you have up to three attempts. It unlocks once you have completed 80 % of the course. Each module also contains knowledge checks.
How do I get certified in shockwave therapy?
Complete the 14 modules, then pass the online final exam: 50 multiple-choice questions, a pass mark of 66 % and up to three attempts. Participants who pass and hold the licence and credentials to perform focused shockwave therapy where they practise receive a certificate that the ISMST issues and sends to them, valid for 2 years. A certificate documents completed training; whether you may perform shockwave therapy depends on the rules of your country or region.
Can I get an ISMST shockwave therapy certificate online, and how long is it valid?
Yes. This is the only ISMST-certified online course worldwide, and everything, including the final exam, takes place online. Participants who pass receive a certificate that the ISMST issues and sends to them, valid for 2 years from the date of issue and carrying a QR code for verification. A certificate documents completed training; it is not a licence to practise.
Does the course include ISMST membership?
Yes. The course comes with a free one-year ISMST membership, which starts after successful completion. If you do not want the membership, you can opt out by emailing office@wavevision.at; opting out does not affect your certificate.
Who provides the course?
The course was created and is operated by WaveVision GmbH in Vienna, Austria, in cooperation with the International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment (ISMST), the certifying society.
What is the difference between focused and radial shockwave therapy, and does the ESWT course cover both?
Focused devices (electrohydraulic, electromagnetic or piezoelectric) concentrate focused shock waves at a specific depth in the tissue. Radial devices are ballistic: a projectile strikes a transmitter in the applicator, and the radial pressure waves spread out from the skin surface and stay largely superficial. The course covers both, is technology-neutral, and explains when focused, radial or combined treatment is indicated. The content is not influenced by industry sales or product agendas.
Which indications does the course cover?
The ten clinical modules cover shoulder tendinopathies including calcific tendinopathy; elbow, wrist and hand conditions; plantar fasciitis; Achilles and patellar tendinopathy; bone indications such as non-union; knee osteoarthritis; low back pain and myofascial pain syndrome; skin and wound indications; and aesthetics and scars.
Do I need a VR headset or any special equipment?
No. You only need a web browser on a computer, tablet or phone. The course uses text, video, interactive graphics and quizzes. Some treatment videos were recorded in a virtual-reality environment, but they play as normal videos.
Does the course include hands-on training?
No. The course is entirely online and has no practical sessions on patients or devices; treatments are shown in demonstration videos. The ISMST separately runs in-person Instructional Certification Courses (ICC), listed on shockwavetherapy.org.
Is this shockwave therapy training available in other languages?
Yes. The course is also available in Portuguese (Brazil), with its own page at wavevision.at/pt/. Spanish, German and Italian versions are in preparation; their pages (wavevision.at/es/, /de/ and /it/) take waiting-list sign-ups.
Is there a discount for clinics or teams?
Yes. If you are a clinic looking for a group discount for this ESWT course, please contact us at office@wavevision.at.
Is the ESWT course accredited for CME or CPD credits?
CME accreditation is in progress. CME or CPD credits are not currently awarded for this course. Please do not enrol on the assumption that credits will become available retrospectively.
The world's only ISMST-certified online course
Start the shockwave therapy course
€599
One-time payment, VAT included · 12 months of access · ISMST certificate · free one-year ISMST membership
Enrolling a team? If you are a clinic looking for a group discount for your team, please contact us.