Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) for chronic tendon, heel, and soft-tissue pain conditions. A non-invasive, clinician-administered treatment that stimulates the body's natural healing response using focused acoustic waves.

Rapid Physiocare's extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) service uses a handheld applicator to deliver high-energy acoustic waves directly to the site of chronic musculoskeletal pain. The shockwave energy is generated by a high-speed projectile inside the device, transmitted through a coupling medium into the underlying tissue. This triggers a localised inflammatory response — distinct from general tissue inflammation — which stimulates increased metabolic activity, growth factor release, collagen synthesis, and the break-up of calcific deposits and scar tissue. The result is an accelerated natural healing process in tissues that have otherwise become chronic and poorly vascularised. Conditions well suited to ESWT include plantar fasciitis and heel spurs, Achilles tendinopathy, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tendinitis, Morton's neuroma, jumper's knee (patellar tendinopathy), and myofascial trigger point pain. A standard treatment course involves 3–8 sessions spaced over several weeks, with session length typically 15–30 minutes. Patients are advised to avoid anti-inflammatory medications and ice packs for 24–72 hours post-treatment, as the inflammatory phase is a key part of the healing mechanism. Mild post-treatment soreness is normal and typically resolves within 24 hours. The therapy is not suitable for pregnant women, individuals with blood clotting disorders, pacemaker users, or those with active infections or open wounds in the treatment area. ESWT at Rapid Physiocare is delivered by trained physiotherapists and is typically combined with a course of standard physiotherapy for optimal outcomes.