020 7916 0029 Call Patient portal Portal Register as a new patient Register Doctors portal Book Now Book Now
Back, neck & joint pain · Focal shockwave · Whitechapel, London

Shockwave Therapy for Back & Joint Pain

Focal shockwave therapy for persistent back, neck and joint pain that has not settled with rest, activity change and rehabilitation.

Delivered byDr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist
ConsultationAssessment before any treatment
Session timeTypically 15–30 min
DowntimeNone
Back to MusculoskeletalAll Services

Educational information — not a substitute for clinical assessment

This page describes back & joint pain in general terms to help you decide whether an assessment may be useful. It is not a diagnosis and does not promise a particular result. Suitability, the number of sessions and whether treatment is appropriate at all are decided at consultation. Outcomes vary between individuals and treatment is not suitable for everyone.

Why people come to us about this.

Most back pain settles within weeks. When it has not, the useful question is no longer what to rest but what is keeping the tissue sensitised — and whether targeted energy delivered into that tissue can help it move on.

What this condition actually is.

This page covers persistent pain in the back, neck and the joints around them: the paraspinal muscles, the gluteal and hip tendons, the shoulder girdle, and the myofascial trigger points that often sit alongside them.

Treatment is delivered by Dr Kishore Bahl, a GMC-registered surgeon. It is shockwave therapy, not spinal manipulation, and it does not involve adjustment of the spine.

Focal shockwave reaches to roughly 12cm, which is what allows it to target deep paraspinal and gluteal tissue that surface treatments do not reach.

The evidence base here is more mixed than it is for tendon pain at the elbow, heel or shoulder. It is stronger for myofascial and trigger-point pain and for gluteal tendinopathy than it is for non-specific low back pain, and we will tell you at assessment which of those your presentation looks like.

What you might be noticing.

  • Back or neck pain lasting more than three months
  • Pain that eases with movement but returns after rest
  • Localised tender points in the muscles either side of the spine
  • Deep buttock or outer hip pain, often worse lying on that side
  • Stiffness in the morning or after sitting
  • Pain that has not improved with physiotherapy, rest or anti-inflammatories

What tends to cause it.

  • Myofascial pain and trigger points in the paraspinal or gluteal muscles
  • Gluteal tendinopathy and greater trochanteric pain
  • Degenerative change in the facet joints
  • Postural and occupational loading — prolonged sitting, driving, manual work
  • Deconditioning after a period of avoiding movement because of pain
  • Persistent sensitisation of tissue after an original injury has healed

How treatment helps.

Acoustic energy delivered into the tissue provokes a controlled biological response rather than suppressing one.

Mechanotransduction converts that energy into cellular signalling, prompting repair activity in tissue that has become quiescent.

Neovascularisation improves local blood supply, which is often reduced in chronically painful muscle and tendon.

Neuromodulation appears to reduce local pain signalling, which is why relief can precede any structural change.

Because the mechanism is biological rather than mechanical, it is used alongside loading and rehabilitation, not instead of them.

Why we use focal shockwave.

We use focal shockwave because it delivers energy to a defined depth — up to approximately 12 cm — allowing accurate treatment of deeper structures. Radial devices spread energy outwards from the applicator and lose intensity quickly, which limits them to more superficial targets.

Why focal reaches what radial cannot.

Pulses travel from the probe and converge on a target at depth. The dashed line marks where radial devices stop.

036912 cm Radial device range ► stops here Focal probe Target SkinFat layerMuscleDeepmuscle
Focal shockwave · depth of penetration

What treatment can offer.

No injection, no anaesthetic and no incision

No injection, no anaesthetic and no incision

No recovery period

No recovery period — you can drive and return to work immediately

Does not involve spinal manipulation or adjust

Does not involve spinal manipulation or adjustment

Reaches deep paraspinal and gluteal tissue tha

Reaches deep paraspinal and gluteal tissue that surface treatment does not

Can be combined with physiotherapy and, where

Can be combined with physiotherapy and, where appropriate, ultrasound-guided injection

Assessed and delivered by a GMC-registered sur

Assessed and delivered by a GMC-registered surgeon

What to expect during treatment.

  1. Step 1

    Assessment first. Treatment follows only if the assessment supports it, and we will say so if it does not.

  2. Step 2

    Sessions take around 20 minutes. Most people describe a repetitive tapping or pressure rather than pain, and the intensity is adjusted during the session.

  3. Step 3

    Typically 3 to 5 sessions, spaced about a week apart, with the number confirmed at your assessment.

  4. Step 4

    Mild soreness over the treated area for a day or two afterwards is common and settles on its own.

  5. Step 5

    You will usually be given exercises to do between sessions. The treatment works best alongside loading, not on its own.

Questions people usually ask.

Is this chiropractic treatment?

No. Chiropractic is a separately regulated profession and “chiropractor” is a title protected by law. Dr Bahl is a GMC-registered surgeon, not a registered chiropractor. What he provides is focal shockwave therapy for the kinds of back, neck and joint pain that often bring people to a chiropractor — delivered without spinal manipulation or adjustment.

Will my spine be manipulated or adjusted?

No. Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic energy into soft tissue through a handpiece resting on the skin. There is no thrust, no manipulation and no adjustment of any joint.

How many sessions will I need?

Typically 3 to 5, about a week apart. The number is confirmed at your assessment, and depends on how long the problem has been present and how it responds.

Does it hurt?

Most people describe a repetitive tapping or a deep pressure rather than pain. No anaesthetic is used, and the settings are adjusted during the session — tell us if it is uncomfortable and we will change them.

Does the evidence support it for back pain?

It depends on the presentation. The evidence is stronger for myofascial and trigger-point pain and for gluteal tendinopathy than it is for non-specific low back pain. We will be straightforward with you at assessment about which category your symptoms fall into and what that means for the likely benefit.

When should I seek urgent help instead?

Back pain with numbness around the groin or back passage, difficulty passing urine or loss of bladder or bowel control, or weakness in both legs, needs urgent assessment the same day — attend an emergency department rather than booking a clinic appointment. Back pain alongside unexplained weight loss, fever, or a history of cancer should be assessed promptly by a doctor.

Related treatments.

Musculoskeletal Pain

Focal shockwave therapy for persistent tendon and soft-tissue pain that has not settled with rest, activity ch…

Learn more →

Sports Injuries

Assessment and focal shockwave therapy for persistent sports injuries — principally tendon problems …

Learn more →

Frozen Shoulder

Assessment and phase-based treatment of frozen shoulder, including focal shockwave therapy where it fits the s…

Learn more →

Shockwave Therapy London

The main shockwave therapy page.

Learn more →

Before you book.

Referral

No GP referral needed. You can book directly.

First appointment

An assessment with Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist. Treatment follows only if the assessment supports it.

Where

Whitechapel, East London. Whitechapel station is on the Elizabeth line, District, Hammersmith & City and Overground.

Fees

Published in full on our price list.

Privacy

Consultations are private and confidential. You are entitled to a chaperone at any appointment, at no cost.

Speak to a specialist.

Speak to Dr Kishore Bahl, Specialist Urologist, about whether this treatment is appropriate for you.

Book a consultation Call 020 7916 0029 See full pricing on our price list
Book Now