Shockwave therapy (or ESWT, short for extracorporeal shockwave therapy) is a technology that uses shock waves to treat chronic painful conditions of the musculoskeletal system.
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Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a treatment for soft tissue injuries. Whether your injury, pain or chronic condition has been caused by the wear and tear of daily activities, exercise, pregnancy, ageing or accidents, musculoskeletal disorders and soft tissue injuries can be debilitating. Many people think that surgery is the only answer but are worried about such a risky step.
Shockwaves are high-energy, audible soundwaves which are transmitted to the affected area to accelerate healing by increasing blood flow, putting cells into repair mode. Shockwave has an analgesic effect and stimulates repair and regeneration. Shockwaves break down injured tissue and calcifications. It can treat conditions in the hips, knees, shoulders, elbows, achilles tendons, forearms, shins, back and feet.
Shockwaves can be either focused or radial. Focused shockwaves offer a smaller focal point with a deeper treatment depth, precisely targeting specific areas. Radial treats a wider more superficial surface area.
Yes. It has NICE guidance for a large number of indications. Shockwave therapy performed by qualified therapists is largely risk-free.
Focused shockwave is not painful, it is more of a sensation. With radial shockwave you may feel discomfort to begin with. However the treatment is delivered with a low amount of energy at first which is increased as you get used to it. The treatment stimulates and effectively supports the body’s self-healing mechanisms and creates an analgesic effect. Many patients report immediate pain relief following shockwave therapy. If you experience pain after treatment you many use ordinary non-prescription painkillers. Do not use anti-inflammatory medication or apply ice to the treated area as both may interfere with the body’s self-healing process.
Conditions treated include but are not limited to:
On average 3 sessions are required. You will need a full assessment to determine the quantity. Treatments last between 10-15 minutes.
Success of shockwave therapy depends on the condition. Statistics show over 90 percent of patients experience a reduction in their pain. The overall success rates for all indications ranges between 60-80% depending on the conditions treated.
Shockwave therapy is recommended for patients who have already had previous conservative therapies that have provided little or no clinical benefit. Recent evidence has shown that Shockwave therapy can also be used for acute soft tissue disorders as well as chronic conditions, where you have tried other conventional therapies or not.
Introduction
Treatment
10-15 minutes
Preparation
None needed
Risks
Very low
Aftercare
No anti-inflammatory medication
Recovery
None needed
Price
Please call Centre for pricing
Doctor Referral Only
You will generally need to get a referral letter from your NHS GP, Private GP, or other doctor to access this service or treatment. Find out more including how we can assist you
Self-Pay Available
This treatment is available for self-paying users. If you would like to see more information on pricing visit our pricing and payments page.
Next Day Availability
We usually have next day availability for this service, please call us to check availability.
We boast a truly integrated team of orthopaedic surgeons, sports medicine physicians, podiatric surgeons, rheumatology specialists, paid medicine consultants and hand therapy specialists. All of these services work together in one place, enabling us to give patients the best care possible.