Plantar fasciitis
NICE guidance on shockwave therapy for heel pain (plantar fasciitis) that hasn't responded to other treatment.
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Shockwave Therapy · Leixlip, Co. Kildare
Radial shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon pain
When heel, elbow, knee or shoulder pain has lasted for months, the body can stop trying to heal it. Radial shockwave therapy sends pressure waves into the sore area to help restart that healing – with no needles, no surgery and no downtime.
Swiss EMS DolorClast® equipmentNo needles or surgeryWalk out and carry on
Overview
What is shockwave therapy?
Shockwave therapy – known in medicine as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) – is a non-invasive treatment for long-lasting tendon and soft-tissue pain. “Extracorporeal” simply means it's applied from outside the body.
A handpiece placed on the skin sends rapid pressure waves into the painful area. The aim is to restart the body's own healing in tissue that has become stuck, and to calm the pain.
We use radial shockwave, where the energy spreads out from the skin over a wider area. This suits the tendon and muscle problems that sit close to the surface – such as the heel, Achilles, elbow, knee and shoulder.
Few min
Treatment time on each area.
3–6
Sessions in a typical course, about a week apart.
0 needles
No injections, no surgery, no downtime.
How it works
Waking up the healing
Long-term tendon pain is often less about inflammation and more about tissue that has stopped repairing itself properly. Shockwave aims to get that process moving again.
Pressure waves spread out
The handpiece sends quick pulses through a little gel on the skin. They spread out into the sore tendon or muscle.
Blood flow increases
The waves stimulate the area, encouraging fresh blood flow to tissue that has been slow to heal.
Healing restarts
The aim is to switch the body's own repair process back on, so the tissue can strengthen over the following weeks.
The pain calms down
Shockwave can also settle the pain signals from the area, which many people notice as the course goes on.
Shockwave usually works best alongside sensible exercise and loading for the injured area – we'll talk this through with you.
Conditions
Common problems we treat
Radial shockwave is mainly used for tendon and soft-tissue pain that has lasted for weeks or months and hasn't settled with rest.
Foot & ankle
- Heel painPlantar fasciitis
- Achilles painAchilles tendinopathy
Elbow & shoulder
- Tennis elbowOuter elbow pain
- Golfer's elbowInner elbow pain
- Shoulder tendon painRotator cuff tendinopathy
Hip, knee & leg
- Outer hip painGreater trochanteric pain
- Jumper's kneePatellar tendinopathy
- Shin splintsMedial tibial stress
- Hamstring & calf tendon pain
Not sure if shockwave is right for your problem? WhatsApp us and ask – we'll tell you honestly.
Side by side
How shockwave compares with other options
Every injury is different and your GP or physio can advise you. This is a general, plain-English comparison.
| Radial shockwave | Steroid injection | Surgery | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Needles or cuts | None | Needle | Yes |
| Downtime | None | Usually short | Weeks to months |
| What it aims to do | Restart the body's own healing | Calm inflammation and pain | Repair or release the tissue |
| Typical course | 3–6 short sessions | One injection, sometimes repeated | One operation plus rehab |
| Usually considered | When pain has lasted months | For short-term relief | When other options haven't worked |
Research
What the evidence says
NICE, the UK's health guidance body, has reviewed shockwave therapy for three of the most common conditions. It found no major safety concerns. When it reviewed the evidence, results on how well it works were mixed. More recent studies have been more positive, especially for heel pain and Achilles pain.
Achilles tendinopathy
NICE guidance on shockwave therapy for Achilles tendon pain.
Read the guidanceTennis elbow
NICE guidance on shockwave therapy for tennis elbow that hasn't responded to other treatment.
Read the guidanceOur equipment: Swiss EMS DolorClast®
We use genuine EMS DolorClast® radial shockwave equipment, made by EMS Electro Medical Systems SA in Nyon, Switzerland. For more on our shockwave service, visit emsshockwave.ie.
Your treatment
What to expect
We get the full picture before we start, so the treatment is right for you.
Before Assessment
- We ask about your pain, how long you've had it and what you've tried
- Tell us about any injections, especially when your last one was
- Tell us about any medication, especially blood thinners
During A few minutes
- We find the sore spot and apply a little gel
- The handpiece delivers pulses for a few minutes
- The strength is adjusted so you can manage it
After Healing time
- The area may feel tender for a day or two
- Go easy on hard sport on the area for a couple of days
- Improvement usually builds over the following weeks
Safety
Is shockwave therapy right for you?
Shockwave is non-invasive and generally well tolerated. We go through your health with you before any treatment.
Usually a good fit if
- Your tendon or soft-tissue pain has lasted weeks or months
- Rest and other simple treatments haven't settled it
- You want to avoid needles or surgery
- You're happy to complete a short course of sessions
Shockwave isn't suitable if you
- Are pregnant
- Take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder
- Have cancer or an infection in the area
- Have had a steroid injection in the area recently
- Are under 18 with growing bones near the area
Questions
Shockwave therapy: frequently asked questions
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
It can be uncomfortable on the sore spot, but each treatment only lasts a few minutes and the strength is adjusted to a level you can manage.
How many sessions will I need?
Most people have a short course of about three to six sessions, usually around a week apart. We will tell you what to expect for your problem at your first visit.
How soon will I notice a difference?
Some people notice a change after the first few sessions, while others improve gradually over the following weeks as the tissue heals.
Is there any downtime?
No. You can walk out and carry on with your day. We advise going easy on hard sport on the treated area for a couple of days.
What is the difference between radial and focused shockwave?
Radial shockwave spreads its energy out from the skin over a wider area, which suits tendon and muscle problems close to the surface. Focused shockwave concentrates energy at a deeper point. We use radial shockwave.
Can I have shockwave if I have had a steroid injection?
Please tell us when your last injection was. If you have had a steroid injection in the area recently, we will usually wait before treating it.
Who should not have shockwave therapy?
Shockwave is not suitable if you are pregnant, take blood thinners or have a bleeding disorder, have cancer or an infection in the area, or are under 18 with growing bones near the area.
How much does shockwave therapy cost?
Call or WhatsApp us on 086 810 6213 and tell us about your problem, and we will give you a price straight away.
Also available
Works well with
Fed up with the pain?
Tell us what's wrong and we'll tell you honestly if shockwave can help.
WhatsApp us Call 086 810 6213