Effective Shockwave Treatment: What You Need to Know
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy, or extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is an advanced, evidence-based treatment for tendon pain (tendinitis or tendinopathy) and other musculoskeletal conditions. "Extracorporeal" simply means the treatment is applied outside the body.
The main benefits of shockwave therapy are pain relief and improved function. It is highly effective for common tendon issues like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, and tennis elbow.
At Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, we use the latest Swiss-made Storz shockwave technology to provide safe, non-invasive treatment backed by strong clinical evidence. Multiple high-quality studies, including randomized, double-blinded trials, support its effectiveness for conditions like plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.
What Conditions Can Shockwave Therapy Treat?
Common conditions treated with shockwave therapy include:
Tendon and Soft Tissue Conditions:
Calcific Tendinopathy – Calcium deposits in tendons, often in the shoulder, causing pain and stiffness.
Tennis Elbow (Lateral Epicondylitis) – Overuse injury affecting the tendons on the outer elbow.
Golfer’s Elbow (Medial Epicondylitis) – Pain and inflammation of the tendons on the inner elbow.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome – A condition affecting the outer hip, often linked to gluteus medius tendinopathy or trochanteric bursitis.
Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy – Also known as high hamstring tendinopathy, causing pain near the sit bone.
Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper’s Knee) – Affects the tendon connecting the kneecap to the shinbone, common in jumping sports.
Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy – Pain and stiffness where the Achilles tendon attaches to the heel bone.
Mid-Portion Achilles Tendinopathy – Degeneration of the Achilles tendon, typically felt in the middle of the tendon.
Plantar Fasciitis – Inflammation of the tissue along the bottom of the foot, leading to heel pain.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?
Shockwave therapy works by delivering high-energy acoustic waves to injured tissues, stimulating the body’s natural healing response. Unlike electrical stimulation, these are mechanical sound waves that penetrate through the skin to target deep musculoskeletal structures.
This treatment has two primary effects:
Pain Reduction – The shockwaves help desensitise nerve endings, often providing immediate pain relief by disrupting pain signals.
Tissue Regeneration & Healing – The waves create controlled micro-trauma in the affected area, which boosts blood flow, stimulates cell regeneration, and promotes faster tissue repair. This process encourages the body to break down disorganized tissue and calcium deposits, leading to long-term healing.
Is Shockwave Therapy Supported by Clinical Evidence?
Yes, shockwave therapy is backed by strong clinical research and is recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for conditions like Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and calcific tendinopathy. NICE provides evidence-based guidelines for best practices in both NHS and private healthcare settings.
Who Can Benefit from Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is typically recommended for patients experiencing chronic pain that has persisted for several months and has not responded to conventional treatments. These treatments may include stretching, strengthening exercises, orthotics, and activity modification.
This therapy is particularly effective for stubborn tendon conditions that have been slow to heal. Unlike muscles, tendons have a limited blood supply, which means recovery can take months or even years. Shockwave therapy helps accelerate this process by stimulating circulation, promoting tissue regeneration, and encouraging faster healing.
Who Will Perform Your Shockwave Therapy?
At Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, your shockwave therapy will be administered by our highly trained physiotherapists and osteopaths. Each practitioner has undergone specialist training in shockwave therapy and has extensive experience in treating persistent, chronic tendon conditions that have not responded to other treatments.
Our team is dedicated to providing expert, evidence-based care, ensuring that your treatment is delivered safely and effectively to help you achieve long-term pain relief and recovery.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Fit Into a Treatment Plan?
The effectiveness of shockwave therapy depends on the condition being treated, but at Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, we believe it works best when combined with physiotherapy, osteopathy and rehabilitation.
For long-term recovery, it’s essential to address any underlying biomechanics issues—such as posture, gait, alignment, muscle imbalances, or movement patterns—that may have contributed to the problem. Your clinician will design a personalizsed exercise program to complement shockwave therapy and maximise its benefits.
Research has shown that shockwave therapy is highly effective for chronic tendon conditions that have not responded to other treatments. It is now being introduced earlier in treatment plans to help speed up recovery.
To ensure the best results, we advise stopping anti-inflammatory medications (such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen) 48 hours before your first session and avoiding them throughout the course of treatment, as they may interfere with the body’s natural healing response.
How Many Shockwave Therapy Sessions Will You Need?
The number of sessions required depends on your specific condition and how long you’ve been experiencing symptoms. Shockwave therapy has a cumulative effect, meaning each session builds on the progress of the previous one to stimulate healing.
Research suggests that at least three sessions over three weeks are needed for noticeable improvements. However, some patients may require additional treatments based on their response and the severity of their condition.
What to Expect During a Shockwave Session:
Each session lasts approximately 5-10 minutes.
Around 2,500–3,000 shockwaves are delivered to the affected area.
The intensity of the treatment is adjusted to ensure the optimal energy level is applied to your injured tissue.
At Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, our practitioners don’t just apply shockwave therapy—they also integrate it into a comprehensive rehabilitation plan. Your clinician will prescribe the right rehabilitation exercises alongside your treatment to ensure long-term recovery and prevent the issue from returning.
Does Shockwave Therapy Hurt?
Shockwave therapy works by stimulating a new healing response in the affected tissue, which requires delivering a controlled amount of energy to the injured area. This process creates micro-trauma in the tissue, which can cause some discomfort or mild pain during treatment.
The level of discomfort varies based on:
The type and location of the injury.
How tender or sensitive the area is before treatment.
Individual pain tolerance.
Since each session lasts only about five to ten minutes, most patients find the treatment manageable. Your clinician will be in full control of the intensity and will adjust the settings as needed, ensuring the treatment remains as comfortable as possible while still being effective. At Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, our specialists communicate with you throughout the session to ensure the best possible experience.
What to Expect After a Shockwave Therapy Session?
Following your shockwave therapy session, you should be able to move the treated area as usual. Many patients experience immediate pain relief, but it’s common to develop temporary soreness or tenderness within 2–4 hours after treatment.
This mild discomfort is a normal part of the healing process and typically resolves within 24 hours. In most cases, it does not interfere with daily activities, allowing you to go about your routine as normal.
Is Shockwave Therapy Safe?
Yes, shockwave therapy is a very safe treatment when performed by experienced professionals. However, for the best results, it is important to receive treatment at a specialist clinic where clinicians have extensive experience in using shockwave therapy for tendon and musculoskeletal conditions.
At Midtown Wellness Covent Garden, our team is highly trained in the diagnosis and management of chronic tendon pain, ensuring your treatment is both effective and tailored to your needs.
Can You Exercise After Shockwave Therapy?
To allow your body to respond to the treatment, we recommend avoiding any activity that puts stress on the treated area for 24 hours, even if you feel no pain afterward.
For example:
If you received shockwave therapy for Achilles tendinopathy, avoid running or high-impact activities for at least 24 hours.
We also advise pausing your rehabilitation or physiotherapy exercises for a full day after treatment.
You will still be able to walk and drive immediately after your session. If you have any further questions, your physiotherapist or osteopath will provide personalised guidance based on your condition and recovery plan.
Are There Any Side Effects of Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive and safe treatment with minimal side effects. Before beginning the procedure, your physiotherapist will review any potential side effects with you to ensure you are fully informed.
Rare Side Effects:
Redness, bruising, or tenderness in the treated area.
Temporary skin irritation or damage.
A temporary increase in pain in the treated area, especially in the first few hours following the session.
These side effects are typically mild and resolve on their own within a short period.
Very Rare Side Effects:
In extremely rare cases, tendon tears or ruptures can occur, especially if the tissue is already severely damaged or weakened (Dedes et al., 2018).
These rare occurrences highlight the importance of receiving treatment from a skilled clinician who will carefully assess your condition and tailor the treatment accordingly to minimize risks and ensure safe, effective results.
Insurance Coverage
At Midtown Wellness Clinic, we are proud to offer shockwave therapy covered by major health insurers, including BUPA, BUPA GLOBAL, AXA, AXA INTERNATIONAL, CIGNA GLOBAL,WPA, AVIVA, Healix, and Vitality. For other insurance providers, please check your policy to confirm coverage.
