Service Detail
Shockwave Therapy — What It Is, Who It's For, What It Costs
Shockwave is one of the most over-marketed treatments in private musculoskeletal care. Used in the right cases it's genuinely impressive — particularly for stubborn tendinopathies and calcific deposits. Used as a sales bolt-on for everything, it's a waste of your money. Here's the honest breakdown.
What shockwave actually is
Radial pressure waves delivered through the skin into target tissue. The waves create controlled micro-trauma, increasing local blood flow and stimulating a fresh healing response in tissue that's stalled. It's NICE-approved for several specific conditions.
Conditions where it genuinely helps
Plantar fasciitis (chronic), Achilles tendinopathy (mid-portion and insertional), patellar tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, and tennis/golfer's elbow. Outside this list, expect cautious recommendations.
What a session feels like
Pulsing pressure on the skin, often described as a strong tapping. The clinician can adjust the intensity and will review how you respond before recommending the next step.
- Treatment intensity can be adjusted
- Your response is reviewed
- Activity advice is tailored to your assessment
- No outcome is promised in advance
Other services and areas we cover
Areas we cover