On March 25, 2026, I traveled to Miami, Florida, to attend a continuing education course focused on advanced applications of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), particularly in competitive and professional sports. The goal of the trip was to build upon the guided medical education (GME) provided by the thesportgroup academy, deepen my practical and theoretical knowledge of both radial and focused shockwave therapy, and exchange expertise with international experts.
A day later, I traveled from Miami to Delray Beach to visit Dr. Erich Menge. The day was devoted to intensive hands-on training covering both radial and focused shockwave therapy. The connection with Dr. Erich Menge was established and facilitated as early as 2022 during a personal visit by Robert Erbeldinger, publisher of the sportärztezeitung. This took place in the context of developing a global education program and a targeted specialization for the U.S. market to support medical education there in the field of non-surgical sports medicine approaches for athletes.
The training focused on clinical protocols, handling the devices, parameter settings, and treatment strategies, with a particular emphasis on application for high-performance and professional athletes. In this context, I was able to draw upon the models and experiences of the CME-certified German workshop courses “Shockwave Therapy & Alternating Procedures,” organized by thesportgroup academy under the scientific direction of Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christoph Schmitz (LMU Munich), to which I still belong as a member of the Scientific Medical Education Board. Continuous development has taken place within the framework of the German course. Evidence has emerged from off-label use. Building on radial shockwave therapy, the program has been steadily expanded to demonstrate the full potential of a Superior Combination Therapy.
During the practical session in Delray Beach, treatments were performed on professional athletes, which facilitated practical application as well as the discussion of individualized therapeutic approaches. Among the athletes treated were UFC fighters Kamaru Usman (Figs. 1 + 2), who has been treated by Dr. Menge for over 10 years, and Michael Johnson, as well as former professional football player Anquan Boldin. These cases provided valuable insights into the treatment of chronic overuse syndromes, soft tissue injuries, and performance-related musculoskeletal disorders in elite athletes. These issues remain significant even after active careers, manifesting as persistent problems caused by the high stresses of elite sports. Following the practical treatments, a detailed training session took place, covering the underlying technology of both radial and focused shockwave systems. In line with the principles of guided medical education (gme), the session covered physical fundamentals, treatment depth, energy settings, indications, contraindications, the clinical workflow, and integration into comprehensive therapeutic concepts. The participants showed great interest and engagement, and the feedback was consistently very positive. The diverse possibilities arising from the combination of radial and focused shockwave therapy with other regenerative and rehabilitative approaches generated particular enthusiasm.
On March 27 and 28, 2026, the continuing education program continued in Sunrise, Florida, as part of the “Shockwave Therapy and Complementary Procedures” event organized by Anatome Lab and led by Jeff Rubinoff and Joel Suraci. Approximately 50 participants from across the United States attended the two-day continuing education program. The focus was on comprehensive training in radial and focused shockwave therapy, diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound, and orthobiologics. The program centered on the synergistic use of these methods and their combined application in musculoskeletal medicine and competitive sports. Participants received both theoretical instruction and practical demonstrations, including protocols for treating the entire musculoskeletal system (muscle injuries, fractures, soft tissue issues, muscle chains, and much more), device selection, and integration into clinical practice.
A special focus was placed on combination therapies (Superior Combination Therapy), demonstrating how shockwave therapy can be effectively combined with ultrasound-guided procedures and orthobiological techniques to optimize treatment outcomes for patients. Using clinical case studies and treatment algorithms, decision-making processes and individualized treatment planning were discussed in detail, enabling participants to gain a better understanding of these topics. We will continue to expand on these topics in future German CME courses in collaboration with the sportärztezeitung. In particular, the potential of Superior Combination Therapy—here also involving HGC (Cryolight), NMRT (MBST), laser (EMS), deep heat, and others—should be emphasized.
Participants showed great interest throughout the event and were highly motivated to expand their knowledge of radial and focused shock wave therapy. The interactive discussions and practical exercises contributed to a dynamic learning atmosphere. Many participants were enthusiastic about applying the techniques presented in their own practices. This hands-on training in small educational groups, which resembles a pre-internship, was very well received. This concept is also expanded digitally through offerings from the thesportgroup academy (Eduaction platform www.thesportgroupacademy.com).
Overall, the training trip provided valuable clinical insights into advanced applications of shockwave therapy in elite sports, fostered professional exchange with international experts, and imparted comprehensive knowledge of combined therapeutic approaches. The combination of hands-on athlete treatment, technical training, and structured educational sessions resulted in an extremely productive and successful training experience. I am already looking forward to my upcoming trips to the United States in July (July 23: meeting with Dr. Menge in Delray Beach to treat additional athletes, as well as a visit to the university; July 24– 25: Anatome Lab, shockwave therapy & complementary procedures, Sunrise, Florida), September (September 23–26 HHPF Conference: Core of Regenerative Medicine, Shockwave Therapy, Prolotherapy & Musculoskeletal Pain Therapy, Pyle Center, University of Wisconsin, Madison) and November (November 5: Dr. Menge in Delray Beach; November 6–7: Anatome Lab, Shockwave Therapy & Complementary Procedures, Sunrise, Florida).
Autoren
» Heilpraktiker für Physiotherapie, Physiotherapeut, Manualtherapeut und Sportphysiotherapeut
» Leitung Physiotherapiezentrum „Die Körperwerkstatt“ in Augsburg
» Ehemals FC Augsburg NLZ und Lizenzmannschaft, aktuell Betreuung Augsburger Panther (1. Liga Eishockey) und Schwaben Open (ATP Challenger Serie)
(Stand 2026)
