In this informative episode, Dr. Kate Eckert breaks down how advanced therapies like laser and shockwave can safely help student athletes of all ages—from elementary school through high school. Whether it's treating acute injuries, chronic conditions, or preventing future problems, Dr. Kate shares her expertise on age-appropriate treatments that get young athletes back in the game faster and stronger.

From wound healing to ankle sprains, headaches to knee injuries, discover how these cutting-edge therapies are revolutionizing youth sports medicine while keeping safety as the top priority.

Key Highlights:

• Safe laser therapy for kids as young as 6-8 years old
• Shockwave treatment starting around age 8 for specific conditions
• Real success stories: Sever's disease, tension headaches, and sports injuries
• Why ankle braces might be doing more harm than good
• The connection between ankle injuries and knee problems in female athletes
• Treating partial tears and chronic sprains with regenerative therapy
• How fibrous adhesions from old injuries affect adult athletes
• Personalized treatment plans: rest vs. staying in season
• The importance of early intervention for faster healing

In this essential episode, Dr. Kate Eckert breaks down the reality of healing timelines and why following your prescribed treatment plan is crucial for success. If you've ever wondered why some people get instant relief while others need weeks to see results, this episode is for you. Dr. Kate shares the three different patient response patterns she sees and explains why patience and compliance are your best allies in the healing process.

This is a must-listen for anyone considering shockwave therapy, decompression, or any regenerative treatment—and especially important if you're used to the "quick fix" mentality of steroid shots and epidurals.

Key Highlights:

• The 3 types of patient responses: One-hit wonders, gradual improvers, and delayed responders
• Why most people start seeing results after "a few visits" but need the full 6 weeks
• The subset of patients who feel worse initially but achieve complete pain resolution at 6-8 weeks
• How rest and activity modification impact your healing timeline
• Why treating multiple areas at once can backfire
• The importance of focusing on ONE problem area at a time
• How jobs that require standing all day affect plantar fasciitis treatment
• Why the first visit isn't actually a "treatment"—it's diagnostic
• Cell regeneration takes 2-3 months: managing delayed onset relief
• When to combine shockwave with decompression for disc issues
• Dr. Kate's "gold standard" approach: 3 visits per week for optimal results
• The personal value equation: avoiding surgery vs. cost considerations

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Lori Parel, a 70-year-old retired nurse who worked for 44 years while battling chronic pain from a car accident at age 24. After being told by multiple doctors to "learn to live with the pain," Lori shares how she went from taking a minimum of 8 Advil daily for 20 years to being completely medication-free through shockwave therapy and lifestyle changes.

Lori's story proves that age is just a number and that it's never too late to reclaim your active lifestyle and break free from chronic pain cycles.

• How a 24-year-old car accident created 50 years of chronic pain
• The hidden connection between jaw clenching, driving stress, and hip pain
• Why 44 years of nursing took a toll on her body (and how she's reversing it)
• More active at 70 than she was at 40, 50, or 60!
• Swimming 2-3x per week, biking 12+ miles, plus gardening and walking
• The importance of being an active participant in your healing journey
• How shockwave therapy treated her shoulder, feet, hips, and ankle
• Breaking unconscious pain patterns and stress responses
• Why waiting 6 months to address pain makes recovery harder

In this powerful episode, we sit down with long-time patient Roger, a 68-year-old BMX racer, musician, preacher, and all-around inspiration. Despite living with degenerative arthritis, chronic inflammation, and severe spinal degeneration, Roger shares how he's maintained an active lifestyle by blending medical interventions like ablations with holistic care, chiropractic therapy, and breakthrough modalities like shockwave and decompression.

Roger’s story proves that you don’t have to settle—and that movement, mindset, and the right team can dramatically change your pain story.

Key Highlights:

• Roger’s powerful mindset: “Motion is the lotion”

• Living with chronic inflammation and arthritis—and still racing BMX at 68!

• How dietary changes transformed his inflammation and lab results

• Why he prefers chiropractic care over long-term steroid use

• His success with radiofrequency ablations (only once a year!)

• The difference between laser vs. shockwave therapy for pain

• How decompression + shockwave improved his disc space

• Tips for choosing the right medical and chiropractic providers

• The overlooked mental toll of chronic pain

• Tools Roger uses at home: vibration plates, mobility sticks & more

In this episode, we hear from one of our amazing patients, Sarah, an avid runner training for her third marathon. When hip and ankle pain threatened to derail her progress, she turned to Shockwave Therapy at Eckerd Chiropractic. Instead of taking weeks off, Sarah found a way to continue her training and recover at the same time.

You’ll hear about her experience, her recovery journey, and why this therapy helped her avoid long setbacks. If you're an athlete or someone struggling with chronic pain while trying to stay active, this episode is a must-listen.

• Sarah’s background as a marathon runner and her training goals
• The hip and ankle pain that almost sidelined her
• How Shockwave Therapy helped her recover without missing training
• The mental challenge of pushing through injury while staying safe

Why proactive recovery matters during race preparation

In this inspiring episode, Alice shares her remarkable journey from debilitating foot surgery complications to running a 5K—all thanks to shockwave therapy. After a complex 6-hour foot reconstruction left her unable to walk more than a mile, traditional treatments failed her. Discover how shockwave therapy succeeded where pain medications and physical therapy couldn't, and why timing is everything when it comes to treatment.

• Recovery from Complex Foot Surgery
• Shockwave vs. Traditional Pain Management
• Multiple Body Areas Treated Successfully
• The Importance of Early Intervention
• Dangerous Side Effects of Gabapentin
• TMJ Resolution in Just 2 Sessions
• From Cane-Dependent to 5K Runner
• Why "Sooner is Better" for Treatment

Alice's story proves that you don't have to accept a life of chronic pain or dangerous medications. From head to toe—literally—shockwave therapy gave her back the active lifestyle doctors said wasn't possible. If you're struggling with post-surgical pain, nerve issues, or chronic conditions, this episode shows there's hope beyond traditional medicine.

In this episode, I reveal surprising culprits behind unexplained neck pain that most people—and even healthcare providers—often overlook. If you've been dealing with chronic neck stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion without any clear cause, this episode could be the key to finally understanding what's really going on.

Key Highlights:

• The Invisalign & Mouth Guard Connection
• Jaw Clenching's Impact on Neck Muscles
• Forward Head Posture Problems
• Using Shockwave Therapy for Diagnosis
• The Jaw-Pelvic Floor Link
• Comprehensive Treatment Approaches
• Stress & Nervous System Regulation
• Why Pain Location Misleads Us

Many people suffer from neck pain for months or years without realizing their dental appliances or stress-induced jaw clenching is the root cause. I explain how the muscular connections between your jaw, neck, and even pelvic floor create a domino effect that can manifest as pain far from the actual problem. Using innovative diagnostic techniques like shockwave therapy, she demonstrates how to become a detective in your own pain management journey.

In this episode, I share insights from a recent Herman & Wallace course focused on using shockwave therapy for pelvic floor dysfunctions.

From erectile dysfunction and prostatitis to incontinence and interstitial cystitis, this conversation dives deep into how focused shockwave can aid both men’s and women’s pelvic health.

I break down the science behind shockwave therapy, explain the differences between radial and focused types, and give my perspective on how this therapy may evolve in the future of pelvic rehabilitation.

Key Highlights:

• What shockwave therapy is and how it works
• The difference between radial and focused shockwave
• Surprising male pelvic floor topics like erectile dysfunction and prostatitis
• How shockwave therapy can support conditions like interstitial cystitis and incontinence
• Why focused shockwave is showing promising results
• My experience with different types of pelvic floor certifications
• How this information may or may not apply to PT scope of practice