From serious sports injuries causing tissue damage to bone issues and stiffness that comes with age, living with pain is, well, a pain. But it's more than that - it's a stressful, often upsetting way to get through your day, month, and year. Have you ever tried to get out of bed with sore, stiff knees? Most folks would rather just get back in bed. Think you might try exercising with plantar fasciitis? Don't plan on running far or doing cardio for very long. Torn rotator cuff? Without proper treatment, your life might not ever be the same.
Living with pain and the inevitable issues that come with age can seriously affect your wellbeing and happiness. Sure, you could wake up every morning and rely on addicting medications to help you move. Or, you could risk further injury and damage with invasive surgeries that require long periods of recovery and downtime. But those can't be the only two options for treatment, can they?
Fortunately, a new, natural, non-invasive treatment for pain is revolutionizing the medical industry and transforming people's lives. It's giving athletes, average folks, and people of a certain age a reason to be hopeful. It's called Softwave therapy, and unlike many fly-by-night medications and sketchy treatments, it's backed by science and provided by Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine.
If you're barely making it through the day suffering from chronic pain, this FDA-approved drug-free treatment may be for you. Softwave therapy has already been used by thousands of people around the country living with issues like shoulder pain, knee pain, and plantar fasciitis. You could be next.
Though its popularity has only grown in recent years, Softwave therapy - also known as shockwave therapy - has been around for years. In fact, the first systematic study into the benefits of shockwave therapy took place way back in 1950. So, what is Softwave therapy?
Softwave therapy is a method of treatment that works incredibly well for mobility rehab, pain relief, and full-body recovery, usually from chronic pain or injuries. Softwave therapy uses a device emitting low-energy soundwaves that target a patient's injured area. These low-intensity waves boost blood flow and kickstart your body's natural healing processes, relieving long-term pain and helping your body to heal a wide range of injuries and conditions.
Softwave therapy works especially well for:
Better Blood Flow
Collagen Stimulation
Reducing Inflammation
Kickstarting cell growth and healing factors
Breaking down build-ups of calciumThe main targets in the body include bones, tendons, and other soft tissues, which are encouraged to regenerate and repair via the shockwaves. Often, shockwave therapy is used in conjunction with other non-invasive treatments like chiropractic care, which we offer at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. The results are often incredible, leaving patients wondering why they never tried Softwave therapy before.
With FDA clearance, little to no side effects, and quick application time, Softwave therapy is a welcome alternative for people suffering from pain. Who wants to spend weeks or months recovering from a surgery that might not even work? Likewise, who would want to become dependent on over-the-counter or, even worse, prescription pain meds? Living a life of addiction is a road nobody wants to go down.
Softwave therapy represents a revolution in non-invasive pain treatment; best of all, it's highly effective. Independent studies prove that shockwave therapy helps with pain. 65-91% of patients using shockwave therapy experienced real-deal improvements in damaged muscle and bone tissue, solving their mobility problems and drastically reducing pain. It almost sounds too good to be true, but as many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine will tell you - it isn't.
Some of the most common conditions that Softwave therapy treats include:
When you get up in the morning and go to the bathroom to brush your teeth, do you notice a stabbing, sharp pain near your heel? Does the pain go away once you have a chance to walk around? If so, you could have plantar fasciitis. According to the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, this painful condition is quite common. About two million people suffer from plantar fasciitis every year, and almost 10% of all people will experience the condition at least once in their life.
This common foot issue happens when the plantar fascia - a fan-shaped tissue near your heel - gets inflamed. The plantar fascia is a thick strip of connective tissue that links your toes to your heel bone, helping to preserve the arch of your foot. When this band is strained, it causes intensely sharp pain, usually in the morning when you wake up and plant your feet on the floor.
Most folks ignore plantar fasciitis because the pain eventually goes away throughout the day. However, if left untreated, plantar fasciitis can lead to weakness and chronic pain, which may affect daily walking.
Some causes of plantar fasciitis include:
The short answer to this question is not really. Patients with plantar fasciitis will ice the affected area with little-to-no relief since they spend so much time on their feet. It's hard to rest an achy heel if you've got a job that requires you to be on your feet. Anti-inflammatory meds like Advil don't work all that well, either. They may provide temporary pain relief, but in terms of a long-term solution, taking these drugs will cause major side effects.
When more conservative treatment options like ice and over-the-counter meds don't work, most doctors turn to ultra-expensive orthotics, steroid injections, or invasive surgery. For the average person, those options fail on all fronts, as they carry risks for side effects and may even cause the issue to worsen.
Instead of going under the knife or changing their daily routines, many people suffering from plantar fasciitis are turning to Softwave therapy for relief.
During a shockwave therapy session, our expert providers use a special probe to deliver pressure waves to inflamed tissue. These waves trigger natural healing processes causing new blood vessels to form. In turn, oxygen is supplied to the affected area, reducing inflammation and causing healthy cells to regenerate. Shockwave therapy also produces collagen, which is crucial for connective tissue health.
With just a few visits, many patients find long-term relief from plantar fasciitis without relying on strange drugs or harmful surgeries.
Living with knee pain is just miserable. From knee tendonitis to osteoarthritis, knee pain can prevent you from enjoying activities and affect your day-to-day life. Your knee is a joint comprised of cartilage, bone, ligaments, and fluids. Tendons and muscles within the knee help the joint move. When one of these crucial knee structures is hurt or compromised, it results in knee pain and long-lasting knee problems. This, in turn, leads to difficulty walking at best and debilitating knee issues at worse.
If you're an active person or somebody who plays sports often, you're probably all too familiar with knee pain - especially common conditions like patellar tendinopathy. Also called "jumpers knee," this issue happens at the patellar tendon, which is found on the front of the knee just under the knee cap. When living with this condition, most patients experience pain around the kneecap or lower down on the leg around the tibia.
In addition to injuries and issues like jumper's knee, everyday wear and tear will cause knee pain over time. With time, this knee pain can develop into arthritis. If your knees are swollen, painful, or stiff, you may have arthritis in your knees. Regardless of the kind of knee pain you're experiencing, treatment options have been limited to agonizing surgeries and addicting pain medications. But that all changes with shockwave therapy for knee pain in James Island, SC.
Though no two knee pain problems are exactly the same, shockwave therapy has been shown to be highly effective for knee pain. In fact, many patients at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine find relief after just one session. Many times, sessions can be completed in as little as 30 minutes. So if you want to find relief for knee pain on your lunch break, that's definitely possible.
As is the case with plantar fasciitis, Softwave therapy works by sending sound wave and low-energy impulses to the affected area of your knee. These pulses stimulate your body's healing factors, which can help regenerate and repair damaged tendons and tissues. Softwave therapy for knee pain is especially promising for people who have tried other treatments - like surgery and pain meds - with disappointing results.
Benefits include:
Several studies and reviews prove that Softwave therapy can be very beneficial for people suffering from knee pain problems like jumper's knee. A study involving 66 patients with knee pain found that they enjoyed a significant improvement in their reported pain levels with Softwave therapy. In fact, knee pain was reduced by nearly 50% after a single month. When combined with other regenerative and physical therapy treatments at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine, your days of living with knee pain are numbered.
Here's a fact for you to consider: Every joint that you have in your body plays a part in your day-to-day life. But when we think of joint issues, we typically jump to knee issues. However, your knees aren't the only joints in your body to go through wear and tear. Your shoulders experience just as much, if not more, wear and tear than your knees. We put a strain on our shoulders just about every time we use or move our arms. Our shoulders play a pivotal part in living a normal life. When they begin to deteriorate over time due to age or overuse, it creates a litany of painful problems.
There are many causes of shoulder pain, like deterioration, inflammation, and trauma. Of the many painful shoulder conditions affecting Americans yearly, rotator cuff tendonitis and arthritis are very common. Also called calcific tendinitis, rotator cuff pain is caused by built-up calcium deposits on the shoulder's tendons, which connect your rotator cuff to nearby muscles and bones. This painful condition is usually linked to sports, like basketball and volleyball, or in professions requiring repetitive movements, like in the plumbing industry.
Some common symptoms of shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinitis include:
Though strengthening exercises and some medications provide temporary relief for shoulder pain, they're not meant as long-term solutions. Luckily, Softwave therapy for rotator cuff pain in cityaname, state, can help.
Shockwave therapy has been shown to work wonders for shoulder pain. Low-intensity shockwaves break up calcium deposits and jumpstart your body's healing processes, stimulating blood flow and healthy cell growth. Shockwave treatment is especially effective for long-term shoulder pain since it releases stem cells, sends growth factors to the affected area, and boosts capillary production. Shockwave therapy has also been shown to break down scar tissue and eliminate trigger points, all of which decrease shoulder pain. This relief is most often long-lasting, unlike other treatments like medications and injections.
Many studies support the efficacy of Softwave therapy for shoulder conditions like rotator cuff pain and calcific tendonitis of the shoulder. In a study of 84 patients living with long-term rotator cuff tendonitis, participants in the treatment group saw a significant decrease in the intensity of their shoulder pain. Another study related to shockwave therapy for calcific tendonitis found that 86.6% of patients experienced fewer calcifications.
If you're having to live with rotator cuff pain or another type of shoulder issue, choosing Softwave therapy may be your best course of action.
Struggling with ED/Erectile Dysfunction that won't improve?
Whether you're sick of living with intense heel pain from plantar fasciitis, the mobility issues associated with knee pain, or the day-to-day struggles of rotator cuff degeneration, you'll find hope at Elite Healthcare Physical Medicine. Unlike some medical clinics, our team of doctors and specialists focus on an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to healing. Instead of relying on addictive medications and invasive surgeries, we prefer to address the underlying causes that our patients face.
We combine several all-natural pain relief therapies so that your shoulder pain, knee pain, joint pain, and foot pain go away for good. We resolve pain by using healing treatments that restore function and improve mobility for the long term. Our state-of-the-art regenerative medicine treatments, used hand-in-hand with proven chiropractic techniques, will stimulate your body's healing power from within. If your pain is related to muscles, nerves, and bones, our doctors can help you overcome discomfort, injury, or medical conditions affecting these systems.
If you've been unable to resolve your pain or have become dependent on painkillers to cope, Softwave therapy may be the natural solution you need. It all starts with a quick call to our office, so we can begin to understand your needs. When you come for your first visit, our doctors will find the personalized treatment you need so that you can manage your pain in a non-invasive and drug-free environment manner.
JAMES ISLAND — Voters elected two additional representatives to join an expanded Town Council.After passing a referendum in 2023 that grew James Island Town Council’s governing body from four to six members, the Nov. 4 election decided who would join the town’s leaders.With all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Julia Drayton-Crumblin and Michael O’Shaughnessy Williams holding 30 percent and 27 percent of the vote, respectively, ahead of candidates Stanley Kozikowski and Kristen Meredith Post...
JAMES ISLAND — Voters elected two additional representatives to join an expanded Town Council.
After passing a referendum in 2023 that grew James Island Town Council’s governing body from four to six members, the Nov. 4 election decided who would join the town’s leaders.
With all precincts reporting, unofficial results showed Julia Drayton-Crumblin and Michael O’Shaughnessy Williams holding 30 percent and 27 percent of the vote, respectively, ahead of candidates Stanley Kozikowski and Kristen Meredith Poston.
“I’m beyond excited. Everyone in the community showed up and made sure they made their voice heard,” Drayton-Crumblin told The Post and Courier. “This community raised me, and they made sure that the person they raised was supported…this is only the beginning. This is the start of a long journey, I promise you.”
Drayton-Crumblin, a lifelong James Island resident, previously told The Post and Courier she wanted to focus on giving back to the community and encourage connectivity with the residents. She said she was considering starting a community garden, wants to explore options for affordable housing and hopes to ensure smart development.
Williams was in second behind Drayton-Crumblin.
“I am beyond excited to put my energy — and sometimes intensity — into work for James Island,” Williams told The Post and Courier. “It’s a very exciting prospect that I actually get to work for the change that I had hoped for.”
Williams, who said he fell in love with James Island when he first moved there seven years ago, previously told The Post and Courier that he considered Town Council to be “a lifelong calling.”
His priorities center around land preservation and pushing back against development. He said he wants to work with both the city of Charleston and Charleston County because they have jurisdiction on James Island. He hopes collaboration will help solve issues residents have.
While she was not elected, Poston said she still felt good because of the support she’s received from residents and public service district staff. Poston previously told The Post and Courier her focus would be on the residents and ensuring their voices are heard.
Kozikowski’s platform focused on slowing development, not only to improve the infrastructure but also to save green space for wildlife. He did not respond to a request for comment by the time of publication.
All council seats are at-large, and each member will serve four-year terms.
Results are unofficial until certified by election officials later this week.
JAMES ISLAND — On Nov. 4, residents will choose two new representatives to join the Town Council.After voters passed a referendum in 2023 that expanded James Island Town Council’s governing body from four members to six, the time to add those new council members has come. The four residents who are running to fill the two seats said they are committed to serving the residents but differ slightly in how they plan to do so.‘We are one James Island’Julia Drayton-Crumblin has lived on the island her...
JAMES ISLAND — On Nov. 4, residents will choose two new representatives to join the Town Council.
After voters passed a referendum in 2023 that expanded James Island Town Council’s governing body from four members to six, the time to add those new council members has come. The four residents who are running to fill the two seats said they are committed to serving the residents but differ slightly in how they plan to do so.
Julia Drayton-Crumblin has lived on the island her whole life. She’s opening a childcare center for kids ages six months to 3 years old in January and runs a rental property business with her sister.
Her platform revolves around town connectivity and giving back, from exploring ways to keep housing affordable to encouraging more neighborhood connections. Drayton-Crumblin said she’s considering starting a community garden.
“I do believe we are one James Island, and I want all of us to remember that so we can still become successful and thrive as a community,” Drayton-Crumblin said.
While she's still exploring specific approaches to affordable housing, Drayton-Crumblin said she wants to ensure there is smart development on the island. She’s open to visiting other municipalities to see what they’re doing to keep housing accessible for residents.
Stanley Kozikowski is retired, but said when you live on James Island, you never really retire.
“There’s too many people to help,” he said.
Kozikowski spends a lot of time volunteering with various nonprofits on the island and enjoys helping his neighbors out. He hopes to continue helping the community on Town Council, mostly by working to slow down development.
There are multiple reasons for pacing the rate of development, he said. The island needs infrastructure to catch up with the growth. Kozikowski added he also wants to save more green space for wildlife.
He’s committed to being a voice for residents when coordinating with neighboring municipalities and Charleston County, he said.
Kristen Meredith Poston, a server and bartender, said her job has many similarities to a community leader.
Poston has served a term on the James Island Public Service District Commission. She said that role has helped her learn to listen to people, whether they’re talking about issues or something they’re excited about.
Poston hopes to continue her focus on residents if she’s elected to Town Council. While she would be an elected official, she would be working for the residents and ensuring their voices are heard, she said.
She added that while the Charleston area is becoming more popular and more people are moving here, she wants to curb development and preserve James Island’s character. Poston said she’d want to keep the island calm and as far away from over-development as possible.
Michael O’Shaughnessy Williams said when he moved to James Island seven years ago, he fell in love with the town and knew he never wanted to leave. He also realized this is where he’d want to run for office to help the community, describing it as a lifelong calling.
Williams’ top priority if elected is land preservation and pushing back against development. The marsh, creeks and tree canopy help make James Island special, and he wants to protect that.
The town needs leaders who have the determination to push back against the city of Charleston and the county when it comes to zoning for future development, Williams said. He added that he wants to work with both local governments because they all have jurisdiction on James Island and hopes collaboration will help solve issues residents have.
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - James Island residents could move closer to flood relief as infrastructure improvements face review by the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee Thursday morning.The infrastructure project, which has been on the committee’s agenda three times now, aims to modernize aging infrastructure and make the area’s drainage system more efficient and resilient.Plans include widening existing drainage channels and replacing older pipes with larger, box-shaped tunnels called box culverts. The ...
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCSC) - James Island residents could move closer to flood relief as infrastructure improvements face review by the City of Charleston Technical Review Committee Thursday morning.
The infrastructure project, which has been on the committee’s agenda three times now, aims to modernize aging infrastructure and make the area’s drainage system more efficient and resilient.
Plans include widening existing drainage channels and replacing older pipes with larger, box-shaped tunnels called box culverts. The city also plans to install muted tide gates and check valves at the system’s lowest points to allow stormwater to drain into nearby creeks while preventing high tides or creek water from flowing back into neighborhoods.
Charleston officials said the goal is to reduce the frequency and severity of flooding, especially in low-lying areas that struggle during heavy rains and high tides.
While the project moves through the approval process, the city is also working to secure funding. In September, leaders applied for $1.5 million in grant funding from the South Carolina Infrastructure Authority and are awaiting a response.
Charleston County is already working nearby to prepare for future storms. Central Park Road remains closed between Riverland Drive and Fleming Road for a $2.7 million project to install new pipes and raise the roadway.
Steve Kirk, the city’s stormwater project management practice lead, said these improvements are critical for protecting both homes and infrastructure.
“Like many areas in Charleston, whether it’s downtown, James Island, John’s Island, West Ashley, a lot of those areas are older. The infrastructure that is currently in the ground… might be undersized,” Kirk said. “It might not be appropriate for the amount of development that has happened and also specifically, with respect to the Central Park area, it is low and it drains into a tidal influenced body of water. So that means, when tides are high, the water moves out much more slowly.”
He said the upgrades would make a noticeable difference for residents.
“The project will allow the water to move through and out of the drainage basin a whole lot faster,” Kirk said. “So, what you’re going to see is a reduction in the duration, in the frequency and in the severity of any flooding that does occur.”
Kirk said every drainage project begins with understanding the problem before finding the right solution.
“When we address flooding concerns, when we address drainage problems in the city, you have to define what the problem is first,” he said. “What is the scope of the project going to be? You have to define the service area. Once you have that, you do a study on the area to fully understand what those problems are. Once you understand what those problems are, then you can begin looking at potential solutions.”
He added that this approach is part of a larger citywide effort to strengthen Charleston’s drainage systems and ensure long-term resilience.
“We have an extensive list of stormwater projects,” Kirk said. “We go through and prioritize those projects. We have input from the mayor, we have input from city council… so we try to ensure that we are addressing drainage throughout the city, not just in one or two locations.”
He said that while the process takes time, it’s vital that the city gets it right.
“Just know that we are working through the process,” Kirk said. “It does take time. We need to make sure that the project is designed and constructed properly so that it works for years to come.”
If the project is approved, the city will move forward with securing funds, applying for permits and finalizing the design. Construction is expected to begin in 2026 with completion targeted for mid to late 2027.
James Island (7–1) hosts Ashley Ridge (5–3) Friday night at 7:30 p.m. in CharlestonThe Ashley Ridge vs James Island Live matchup features the James Island Trojans hosting the Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes at James Island Charter High School in Charleston, SC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, with live streaming and digital tickets available for fans.The James Island Trojans enter with a ...
The Ashley Ridge vs James Island Live matchup features the James Island Trojans hosting the Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes at James Island Charter High School in Charleston, SC. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, with live streaming and digital tickets available for fans.
The James Island Trojans enter with a 7–1 overall record, including a 5–0 home record, averaging 37.5 points per game while allowing 65 points. James Island has been effective offensively in the first three quarters (8.0, 9.0, and 7.7 points on average), giving them a strong start and steady scoring advantage. Their 2–1 region record highlights their competitive position in South Carolina.
The Ashley Ridge Swamp Foxes come in at 5–3 overall, including a 3–1 away record, averaging 34.0 points per game while conceding 178 points. Ashley Ridge has shown strong scoring in the first and second halves (8.8 and 9.3 points on average in Q1 and Q4), but they will face a challenge against James Island’s balanced offense and stout defense. Their 3–0 region record keeps them in strong contention within the conference.
This matchup features James Island’s Trojans and high-scoring offense against Ashley Ridge’s Swamp Foxes, creating a compelling conference contest with playoff implications and district standings on the line.
How to Watch and Get TicketsFans can stream Ashley Ridge @ James Island Live on GoFan, accessible on computers, tablets, and mobile devices starting at 7:30 p.m. for full coverage.
Tickets are available via GoFan—early purchase is recommended for guaranteed entry and smoother stadium access. Don’t miss the chance to see the Trojans take on the Swamp Foxes in this key South Carolina conference matchup.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in Charleston, SC.
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Dozens of James Island residents attended a town hall on Monday to meet the four candidates running for two town council seats.(WCIV)JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Dozens of James Island residents attended a town hall on Monday to meet the four candidates running for two town council seats.It was a packed room for a Monday night, with barely any seats open. Attendees were listening closely to the candidates as they talked about the issues that are the most pressing in their community."This isn't just where we liv...
Dozens of James Island residents attended a town hall on Monday to meet the four candidates running for two town council seats.(WCIV)
JAMES ISLAND, S.C. (WCIV) — Dozens of James Island residents attended a town hall on Monday to meet the four candidates running for two town council seats.
It was a packed room for a Monday night, with barely any seats open. Attendees were listening closely to the candidates as they talked about the issues that are the most pressing in their community.
"This isn't just where we live. This is home," Julia Drayton Crumblin, one of the candidates said.
At the event all of the candidates were able to present opening and closing statements, along with answering questions from the moderator. After each question was asked, the candidates were given the chance for a rebuttal. The questions were written by the Local League of Women Voters and James Island residents.
During the town hall, candidates were asked about their goals, the role of town council, collaboration, infrastructure resiliency, voter representation, flooding issues and concerns about tree cutting around power lines.
"I want my grandkids, their grandkids, more grandkids to enjoy the creeks, marsh, trees, cany, wildlife, just as much as I can," candidate Michael Williams said.
The candidates all emphasized their love for James Island and presented what they believe is the most pressing issue.
"You are the same level as any elected official. You are the people that we are serving. You are not serving us. We're serving you," candidate Meredith Poston said
Jeri Cabot, the co-president of league of women voters of Charleston area, says these local elections may not get as much turnout as a national election, but they might have more of an impact on your day-to-day life.
"This zoning decision at the municipal level was related to the apartment complex you see going up down this street. This decision made about a drainage area is related to the flooding you do not experience on a particular road," Cabot said.
The candidates running for the two opens seats on the Town of James Island Town Council are the following:
Early voting started on Monday and goes on through Friday, Oct. 31. The polls are closed on Saturday and Sunday, and Election Day is Nov. 4.