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Shockwave can cause some discomfort during treatment, particularly over very sensitive or inflamed areas, and is often described as a strong, rhythmic pulsing or aching sensation rather than sharp pain.
Your practitioner will adjust the intensity to a level you can tolerate, and any discomfort typically settles quickly after the session ends.
Shockwave is typically delivered as a course of treatment rather than a single session.
Most conditions require around 3–6 sessions, usually spaced about a week apart, to allow the tissue time to respond between treatments.
Your practitioner will assess your condition and progress at each visit and give you a realistic estimate of how many sessions you’re likely to need.
Focused shockwave delivers energy to a precise, targeted depth within the tissue, making it well suited to deeper structures like tendons close to bone.
Radial shockwave disperses energy more broadly across a wider area and is often used for more superficial soft tissue conditions.
Your practitioner will select whichever is most appropriate for your specific condition — or use both.
Shockwave therapy is commonly used to treat:
* Plantar fasciitis
* Tennis elbow
* Golfer’s elbow
* Achilles tendinopathy
* Bursitis
* Calcific shoulder tendinitis
It is particularly effective for chronic musculoskeletal conditions where symptoms have persisted despite rest or other treatment.
Mild redness, bruising, swelling, or soreness in the treated area is common after shockwave therapy and usually settles within a few days.
Some patients notice a temporary increase in pain before symptoms start to improve, which is a normal part of the tissue’s healing response.
Yes, when carried out by a qualified practitioner.
Shockwave is not suitable for everyone, however. It’s generally avoided during pregnancy and in patients with certain conditions, such as blood clotting disorders, or those taking blood-thinning medication.
Your practitioner will take a full history before treatment to confirm it’s appropriate for you.
Yes — this is a core part of how we deliver shockwave treatment.
We combine shockwave with manual therapy and osteopathy as part of our in-house combination therapy approach, addressing both the tissue damage being treated and any surrounding joint or muscular restriction contributing to your pain.
Some patients notice an improvement in pain within a few sessions.
For many conditions, however, the fullest benefit builds gradually over the course of treatment as the tissue repairs and may continue improving for several weeks after your final session.