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Here’s something that might surprise you: your body already knows exactly how to heal most soft tissue injuries. The problem isn’t that you lack healing ability—it’s that injured tissues often get stuck in a cycle where they can’t access what they need to repair themselves properly.
Think of it like having a garden where the soil has all the right nutrients, but the sprinkler system isn’t working. The plants want to grow, they have everything they need, but they just can’t get to it. That’s what happens with chronic tendinitis, muscle strains, and other soft tissue problems that won’t seem to heal no matter what you try.
At St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, we’re grateful to offer SoftWave Therapy—one of the most exciting advances in cellular healing that we’ve seen in our 25 years of practice. What makes this technology remarkable isn’t just that it works, but how it works: by activating your body’s own repair mechanisms at the cellular level.
Let me share something we’ve observed over the years treating thousands of patients with soft tissue injuries. Most conventional treatments focus on what you feel—the pain, the stiffness, the limitation—rather than addressing what’s actually happening inside the tissues themselves.
It’s like trying to fix a car that won’t start by focusing only on the dashboard warning lights. You might temporarily turn off the warning light, but if the engine still isn’t getting fuel, oil, or spark, the underlying problem remains.
Traditional approaches typically follow one of three paths: masking symptoms with medication, forcing movement through the painful area with aggressive therapy, or simply waiting and hoping things improve with time. While each approach has its place, none directly addresses the cellular environment that determines whether tissues can actually heal.
This is where SoftWave Therapy represents something genuinely different. Instead of treating around the problem, it creates optimal conditions for healing to occur naturally and completely.
I’ll be honest with you—when we first learned about SoftWave Therapy, we were skeptical. After 25 years of seeing various “breakthrough” treatments come and go, we’ve learned to be careful about claims that sound too good to be true.
But the more we researched the science behind true broad-focused shockwave technology, the more we understood why this approach achieves results that other treatments simply can’t match. Here’s what convinced us:
SoftWave Therapy works by delivering precisely controlled acoustic waves to injured tissues. These waves create microscopic changes at the cellular level that trigger six distinct healing mechanisms simultaneously. Think of it like flipping multiple healing switches all at once, rather than hoping one approach might work.
One of the most remarkable effects is stem cell activation. Research shows that SoftWave treatments can increase circulating stem cells—your body’s master repair cells—by up to 238 percent. Imagine having more than twice as many specialized repair workers available exactly when your tissues need rebuilding most.
The treatment also stimulates formation of new blood vessels in treated areas. Picture creating new highways to deliver nutrients and remove waste products from tissues that have been cut off from adequate circulation. This improved blood flow continues long after the treatment session ends, supporting ongoing healing.
One concern we had initially was patient comfort. Many people associate “shockwave” with something harsh or painful. What we’ve discovered is exactly the opposite.
True broad-focused SoftWave technology distributes energy gently across larger tissue areas, unlike conventional radial shockwave devices that concentrate energy at specific points. The result feels like a gentle, rhythmic tapping—so comfortable that many patients actually relax during their sessions.
Treatment sessions take only 10-15 minutes, making them easy to fit into busy schedules. There’s no downtime, no recovery period, and you can return immediately to all normal activities.
After treating hundreds of patients with SoftWave Therapy, we’ve been consistently amazed by the conditions that respond—including many that had resisted every other treatment approach patients had tried.
Many conditions labeled as “chronic” aren’t actually permanent problems. They’re acute injuries that got stuck in the healing process due to poor circulation, cellular energy deficits, or inflammatory cycles that never properly resolved.
Chronic tendinitis in shoulders, elbows, and Achilles tendons often falls into this category. These tissues want to heal, but they lack the cellular resources and optimal environment necessary for complete repair. SoftWave Therapy provides both, often allowing healing to restart and complete properly for the first time.
We’ve seen remarkable improvements in plantar fasciitis that had plagued patients for years, tennis elbow that prevented people from simple daily activities, and rotator cuff problems that had limited sleep and function despite multiple previous treatments.
One application that has particularly impressed us involves helping patients heal more completely after surgical procedures. Surgery can address major structural problems, but it doesn’t necessarily optimize the healing environment in surrounding tissues.
SoftWave Therapy can accelerate post-surgical recovery while reducing scar tissue formation and improving final outcomes. Many patients experience faster return to activities with better long-term function than they might have achieved with surgery alone.
For fresh injuries—within 72 hours—SoftWave Therapy can dramatically accelerate normal healing while preventing many complications that often develop later. Athletes, in particular, appreciate how this technology can help them return to activities stronger than before injury rather than just patched up.
Understanding what to expect helps eliminate any anxiety while allowing you to focus on the healing process taking place. Our approach has been designed for maximum therapeutic benefit with complete comfort and convenience.
We begin with a comprehensive evaluation that goes beyond identifying where you feel pain. Using specialized assessment techniques, we identify all affected tissues and understand the factors that led to your injury and may be preventing healing.
This isn’t a rushed consultation. We take time to understand your health history, work demands, recreational activities, and goals for recovery. This information guides our treatment protocol and helps set realistic expectations based on your specific situation.
During treatment, you’ll lie comfortably while our specialist applies the SoftWave device to affected areas using specific patterns designed for your condition. The sensation feels like gentle tapping or pulsing—nothing like what “shockwave” might suggest.
Throughout your session, you can actually feel enhanced circulation beginning as warmth spreads through treated tissues. Many patients describe sensing an “awakening” in areas that had felt sluggish or stuck for months or years.
Our specialists monitor your comfort continuously and can adjust treatment parameters immediately if needed, though most patients find the experience quite relaxing.
Unlike treatments that provide temporary relief that gradually fades, SoftWave Therapy typically creates progressive improvements that build between sessions and continue developing long after treatment concludes.
Many patients notice immediate improvements in circulation and range of motion, followed by gradually decreasing pain levels over the following days and weeks. Functional improvements—like returning to activities that were previously difficult—often continue developing for months as tissues complete the healing process.
I want to be transparent about something: SoftWave Therapy isn’t available everywhere, and there’s a reason for that. True broad-focused shockwave technology requires a significant investment in equipment, training, and ongoing education that many practices simply can’t justify.
The difference between true SoftWave technology and basic radial shockwave devices available at many clinics is substantial—both in cost and capabilities. True acoustic wave technology penetrates deeper (up to 7 centimeters versus 2-3 centimeters), covers broader tissue areas, and creates the cellular effects that make lasting healing possible.
Many practices choose less expensive pneumatic devices that use the “shockwave” name but lack the depth penetration and broad tissue coverage that make SoftWave uniquely effective. While these devices can provide some benefits, they simply can’t achieve the comprehensive cellular healing that true SoftWave technology makes possible.
Delivering optimal SoftWave results requires extensive training beyond basic equipment operation. Our team has completed certification programs covering tissue assessment, treatment parameter selection, and protocol development.
Understanding how to customize treatment for different tissue types, injury phases, and patient characteristics requires detailed knowledge that develops through extensive education and clinical experience. This level of expertise distinguishes providers who achieve consistently excellent results from those who simply own the equipment.
We made the investment in true SoftWave technology and comprehensive training because we believe our patients deserve access to the most effective healing approaches available. When we see the results this technology provides for people who haven’t found help elsewhere, the investment always feels worthwhile.
Being one of the few clinics in Minnesota offering true broad-focused SoftWave technology means patients often travel significant distances to access this advanced treatment. We consider this trust a privilege and work hard to justify the confidence people place in our expertise.
While SoftWave Therapy produces remarkable results as a standalone treatment, we’ve found its effectiveness amplifies significantly when integrated with our other advanced approaches. Think of comprehensive care like a well-coordinated team where each member contributes specific expertise toward the same goal.
Many soft tissue injuries develop due to underlying spinal alignment problems that create abnormal stress patterns throughout the body. A shoulder tendinitis, for example, might stem from cervical spine dysfunction that alters shoulder mechanics.
When SoftWave Therapy optimizes cellular healing in damaged tissues while our Spinal Rejuvenation Therapy addresses underlying structural problems, patients often achieve more complete and lasting recovery than either approach could provide alone.
SoftWave Therapy activates your body’s healing mechanisms, but those mechanisms require adequate nutritional building blocks to function optimally. Our targeted nutritional recommendations provide specific support for the cellular processes activated by treatment.
This integrated approach ensures that your enhanced healing mechanisms have everything they need to function at peak efficiency, often accelerating recovery timelines while optimizing final outcomes.
As tissues heal through SoftWave Therapy, properly designed rehabilitation exercises help maintain improvements while building resilience against future problems. The timing and progression of these exercises are coordinated with your SoftWave schedule to support rather than interfere with healing processes.
Every day you wait is another day of living with limitations that might be completely unnecessary. Soft tissue conditions rarely improve on their own and typically worsen gradually without appropriate intervention, making timely action crucial for achieving optimal outcomes.
Many people postpone treatment for soft tissue problems because symptoms seem manageable or other priorities take precedence. What we’ve observed over the years is that this delay often results in higher costs—both personal and financial—in the long term.
Chronic conditions frequently develop compensatory movement patterns that create stress on previously healthy tissues, gradually expanding the scope of the problem. The psychological impact of living with ongoing limitations often becomes more significant over time as activities are gradually abandoned and confidence diminishes.
Schedule Your Comprehensive SoftWave Evaluation – Book your consultation online for a thorough assessment of your condition with personalized information about how SoftWave Therapy might address your specific tissue problems.
Speak Directly with Our Specialists – Call (651) 644-7207 to discuss your condition with our knowledgeable team who can answer questions about SoftWave Therapy and help determine if you’re an ideal candidate for cellular healing optimization.
Request Detailed Information – Email us at info@stpaulnaturalhealth.com with details about your soft tissue problems, and we’ll provide personalized information about how this advanced technology might help your individual situation.
Your comprehensive evaluation encompasses detailed discussion of your injury history and current limitations, thorough tissue assessment using advanced techniques, review of any previous treatments and their results, clear explanation of how SoftWave technology works for your specific type of problem, realistic expectations about improvement timelines and outcomes, and complete understanding of treatment options with transparent cost information.
You’ll leave your consultation with complete understanding of your condition and treatment options, confidence that you’re receiving expert guidance based on extensive experience, and realistic expectations about what this advanced technology might accomplish for your specific situation.
Located at 464 Hamline Ave South in St. Paul’s Highland Park neighborhood, our clinic has served the Twin Cities community since 2000. Dr. Christopher Lilja and our caring team have built our reputation on providing access to advanced healing technologies combined with the personalized attention that makes each patient feel valued and heard.
We’re grateful for the trust our patients place in us and committed to justifying that trust through excellent outcomes and compassionate care. Being one of the few clinics in Minnesota offering true broad-focused SoftWave technology represents our ongoing commitment to providing the most effective healing approaches available.
Contact Information: St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center
464 Hamline Ave South
St. Paul, MN 55105
Phone: (651) 644-7207
Email: info@stpaulnaturalhealth.com
Stop accepting limitations when cellular healing optimization might change everything. Contact us today and discover why patients consistently say they wish they’d found this approach sooner.
SoftWave Therapy uses true broad-focused acoustic waves to activate your body’s natural healing mechanisms at the cellular level. Research shows it can increase circulating stem cells by up to 238% while stimulating new blood vessel formation and optimizing tissue repair processes. Unlike treatments that just mask symptoms, SoftWave enhances your body’s own healing capacity. The treatment feels like gentle, rhythmic tapping and takes only 10-15 minutes per session with no downtime required.
Chronic tendinitis in shoulders, elbows, and Achilles tendons often responds remarkably well, even when other treatments have failed. Plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff problems frequently improve significantly. The therapy also accelerates post-surgical healing while reducing scar tissue formation. For acute injuries within 72 hours, SoftWave can dramatically speed recovery while preventing complications. Many “chronic” conditions aren’t actually permanent—they’re acute injuries stuck in the healing process due to poor circulation or cellular energy deficits.
Treatment protocols vary based on your specific condition, how long you’ve had symptoms, and your body’s response to therapy. Acute injuries might need 3-5 sessions, while chronic conditions typically require 6-12 treatments. Many patients notice improvements after the first few sessions, with continued progress over several weeks as cellular healing processes continue. We monitor your response closely and adjust protocols based on your individual progress patterns.
We accept most major insurance plans, including HSA/HFA funds, and verify your coverage before your first visit at no cost; just bring your insurance card. We also coordinate with your primary care provider to ensure seamless care.
By appointment only
Monday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday : By appointment
Wednesday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Thursday :12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 1pm
Closed Saturdays & Sundays
Check back often for orthopedic news and updates about our office.
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We’re honored by the trust our patients place in us and grateful for every opportunity to participate in their healing journeys. If you’re seeking comprehensive care that addresses the real reasons your symptoms persist, we’d be privileged to help you discover what’s possible when the right combination of advanced treatments addresses your body’s specific needs.
Gratefully Serving the Twin Cities Community Since 2000
Where Innovation Meets Natural Healing
By appointment only
Monday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Tuesday : By appointment
Wednesday: 9am – 12pm & 2pm – 6pm
Thursday :12pm – 6pm
Friday: 9am – 1pm
Closed Saturdays & Sundays
Emily serves as the Lead Spinal Rehabilitation Specialist at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her exceptional patient care and clinical expertise have made her an invaluable member of our team since August 2017. As our most senior team member, Emily exemplifies the practice’s commitment to compassionate, comprehensive care.
Emily brings a strong academic foundation to her role, having graduated from Winona State University in 2017 with dual Bachelor’s degrees in Movement Science and Psychology. This interdisciplinary education uniquely positions her to understand both the physical and psychological aspects of patient rehabilitation, allowing her to deliver care that addresses the whole person.
Since joining our team, Emily has become an expert in our proprietary treatment protocols. Her advanced training includes certification as a registered Limited Scope X-ray operator, providing her with detailed knowledge of spinal anatomy and pathology that enhances her rehabilitation work.
Olivia brings Southern warmth and exceptional expertise to St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where she has been an indispensable team member since 2018. Originally from Georgia, Olivia made Minnesota her home in 2010, establishing roots in East St. Paul and graduating from Johnson Senior High School before pursuing her passion for healing at the Aveda Institute Minneapolis.
With over a decade of experience in therapeutic bodywork, Olivia’s journey began as a certified massage therapist in 2016, quickly distinguishing herself through her remarkable ability to address soft tissue injuries and chronic pain conditions. Her skills and commitment to patient care gained Dr. Chris’s notice, resulting in a lasting professional partnership.
In January 2024, Olivia’s role evolved to Lead SoftWave Technician Specialist, where she skillfully applies Extra-Corporal Shock Wave Therapy to address knee pain, shoulder injuries, and various soft tissue conditions. Her extensive background in massage therapy provides her with an intuitive understanding of the body’s mechanics, allowing her to achieve exceptional results with SoftWave technology.
Olivia is also a key practitioner in our proprietary Spinal Rehabilitation Therapy (S.R.T.) program, working seamlessly alongside Emily to create a therapeutic environment that promotes optimal healing and recovery. Together, they form the backbone of our patient care team, establishing an atmosphere of comfort, trust, and clinical excellence that patients consistently praise.
What truly sets Olivia apart is her genuine compassion and unwavering reliability. She greets every patient with a warm smile, approaches each case with meticulous attention to detail, and consistently demonstrates the perfect balance of technical skill and heartfelt care. Her humble nature belies her exceptional abilities, making her therapeutic presence all the more powerful.
Outside the clinic, Olivia embraces life’s simple joys with her 7-year-old daughter and spouse. She finds renewal through camping adventures, expresses her creativity through drawing, delights in culinary exploration, and soaks up Minnesota’s precious sunshine whenever possible.
We consider ourselves truly blessed to have Olivia as part of our healing community at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center, where her dedication continues to transform lives daily.
With over two decades of dedicated patient care experience, Molly brings a wealth of expertise and compassion to her role as Office Manager at St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center.
After graduating from Century College’s Dental Assistant program in 2004, Molly built an impressive career as a Licensed Dental Assistant, developing exceptional skills in patient communication and healthcare administration.
Guided by her personal commitment to holistic wellness, Molly made a transformative career shift in Summer 2023 to align her professional path with her passion for natural health. She earned prestigious certifications from the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) as a Personal Trainer, Nutrition Specialist, and Corrective Exercise Specialist—qualifications that provide her with unique insights into the comprehensive care our patients receive.
“What I value most about St. Paul Chiropractic & Natural Medicine Center is our team’s dedication to treating the whole person, not just symptoms,” Molly shares. “Seeing patients progress from pain to wellness is incredibly rewarding.”
As Office Manager, Molly expertly coordinates patient care while ensuring our practice runs smoothly. Her understanding of both administrative excellence and natural healing principles makes her an invaluable bridge between our clinical team and patients.
When not welcoming patients with her warm smile, Molly embraces life as a devoted mother to three daughters. Her personal wellness journey includes strength training and fitness activities—often making these family affairs. An avid home chef, she experiments with nutritious recipes and occasional treats, believing that balance is essential to well-being. In quieter moments, she finds inspiration through reading and creative writing, nurturing her lifelong love of storytelling. Molly’s adventurous spirit also drives her passion for travel and exploring new cultures.
Her philosophy perfectly complements our center’s mission: “True health comes from understanding the body’s natural healing abilities and supporting them through proper care, nutrition, and mindful living.”
