SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

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Shockwave therapy is a clinically proven treatment used across orthopaedics and sports medicine to support pain relief and restore movement. This non-invasive, drug-free therapy works by stimulating the body’s natural healing response, making it an effective option for both acute and chronic conditions. With no surgery and no reliance on pain medication, shockwave therapy can help accelerate recovery and support long-term improvement.

• Plantar fasciitis (with or without heel spur)
• Achilles tendinopathy (mid-portion and insertional)
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
• Gluteal tendinopathy
• Rotator cuff–related shoulder pain
• Lateral & medial epicondylalgia (tennis / golfer’s elbow)
• Hamstring tendinopathy
• Adductor tendinopathy (groin pain)
• Quadriceps tendinopathy

• Chronic muscle tightness and stiffness
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Active and latent trigger points
• Neck and upper back pain
• Low back pain
• Calf, hamstring, and hip flexor tightness
   

• Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)
• Stress reactions (early-stage, not acute fractures)
• Delayed bone healing 
• Periostitis
   

• Calcific shoulder tendinopathy
• Calcific Achilles or patellar tendons
• Soft tissue calcifications
  

• Overuse injuries
• Reduced tissue elasticity
• Load-related pain in athletes
• Recovery support in high training volumes

Shockwave therapy uses targeted acoustic waves to deliver high-energy impulses to injured or painful tissues. These waves stimulate blood flow, encourage tissue regeneration, and promote the body’s natural repair processes in bones, tendons, and other soft tissues. This makes shockwave therapy particularly effective for subacute, subchronic, and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

Medical Effects

Shockwave therapy delivers high-energy acoustic waves that interact with targeted tissues to produce a range of therapeutic effects. These include accelerated tissue repair and cell regeneration, pain reduction, and improved mobility. These processes typically occur simultaneously, making shockwave therapy particularly effective in the treatment of subacute and chronic musculoskeletal conditions.

New Blood Vessel Formation

Healthy blood flow is essential for initiating and sustaining tissue repair. Shockwave therapy stimulates the formation of microscopic changes within tendon and bone tissue, triggering the release of key growth factors such as eNOS, VEGF, PCNS, and BMP. This process promotes the remodelling and growth of small blood vessels, improving circulation and oxygen delivery to the affected area. Enhanced blood supply supports faster healing of both tendon and bone tissue.

Reversal of Chronic Inflammation

Chronic inflammation develops when the normal inflammatory response fails to fully resolve, often leading to ongoing pain and tissue damage. Shockwave therapy stimulates mast cell activity, a key component of the inflammatory process. This activation promotes the release of specific signalling molecules that initially enhance inflammation, before helping to reset and restore normal healing and regenerative pathways—supporting long-term tissue recovery.

Stimulation of Collagen Production

Collagen production is essential for the repair and strengthening of damaged musculoskeletal and ligamentous structures. Shockwave therapy accelerates procollagen synthesis and encourages newly formed collagen fibres to align in a more organised, longitudinal structure. This results in stronger, denser, and more resilient tendon tissue, supporting improved function and durability.

Dissolution of Calcified Fibroblasts

Calcium build-up within tendons most commonly develops as a result of micro-tears or repetitive trauma. Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic waves that help break down existing calcifications and initiate a biochemical decalcification process. These calcium deposits, often described as having a toothpaste-like consistency, are broken into smaller granular particles. The body’s lymphatic system then naturally clears these particles, supporting tendon healing and improved tissue function.

Dispersion of Pain Mediator – Substance P

Substance P is a neurotransmitter responsible for transmitting pain signals through C-fibres to the central nervous system and is commonly associated with intense, persistent, and chronic pain. Reducing the concentration of Substance P decreases stimulation of pain-sensitive nerve fibres, leading to a reduction in pain perception. Shockwave therapy lowers local levels of Substance P, histamines, and other pain-related metabolites, helping to reduce inflammation, limit oedema, and trigger pain relief.

Release of Trigger Points

Trigger points are a common source of pain in the back, neck, shoulders, and limbs. They are characterised by tight, palpable nodules within bands of muscle fibres caused by excessively contracted sarcomeres. These sustained contractions restrict local blood flow, leading to a build-up of metabolic waste products that further irritate sensory nerves and perpetuate muscle tension—a process known as a “metabolic crisis.” Shockwave therapy delivers targeted acoustic energy that helps restore normal calcium exchange within muscle fibres, reversing this metabolic crisis and promoting the release of trigger points.