020 7916 0029 Call Patient portal Portal Register as a new patient Register Doctors portal Book Now Book Now
Musculoskeletal · Focal shockwave · Whitechapel, London

Shockwave Therapy for Musculoskeletal Pain

Focal shockwave therapy for persistent tendon and soft-tissue 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 musculoskeletal 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.

Tendon pain that has lasted months rarely resolves with more rest. Shockwave is one of the better-evidenced options for persistent tendinopathy — but it works alongside loading and rehabilitation, not instead of them.

What this condition actually is.

Shockwave therapy is well established in musculoskeletal medicine for chronic tendinopathy — persistent tendon pain that has not responded to initial management.

It is used for conditions including plantar heel pain, tennis and golfer's elbow, patellar tendinopathy, Achilles tendinopathy and greater trochanteric pain.

It is given as a course, and works best combined with a structured loading programme. Shockwave alone, without rehabilitation, achieves less.

What you might be noticing.

  • Pain at a tendon that has lasted more than three months
  • Pain that is worse at the start of activity, eases, then returns afterwards
  • Morning stiffness at the affected site
  • Tenderness on pressing the tendon
  • Pain limiting sport, work or walking
  • Symptoms that have not improved with rest, ice or anti-inflammatories

What tends to cause it.

  • Repetitive loading beyond the tendon's capacity to adapt
  • A sudden increase in training volume or intensity
  • Change in footwear, surface or technique
  • Reduced tendon tolerance with age
  • Metabolic factors including diabetes and raised cholesterol
  • Previous injury to the same site
  • Some medications, including quinolone antibiotics

How treatment helps.

Focal shockwave delivers acoustic energy into the affected tendon at a controlled depth.

The intention is to stimulate the tendon's repair response and reduce pain sensitivity in the treated area.

Focal depth matters where the target is deep — such as the gluteal tendons at the hip — which radial devices are not designed to reach.

It is given as a course, typically alongside a loading programme, with benefit developing over weeks.

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.

Non-invasive, with no injection and no surgery

Non-invasive, with no injection and no surgery

Drug-free, avoiding anti-inflammatory side eff

Drug-free, avoiding anti-inflammatory side effects

No anaesthetic and no downtime

No anaesthetic and no downtime

Reasonable evidence base for chronic tendinopa

Reasonable evidence base for chronic tendinopathy

Can be combined with physiotherapy and, where

Can be combined with physiotherapy and, where appropriate, injection

Focal depth allows treatment of deeper structu

Focal depth allows treatment of deeper structures

What to expect during treatment.

  1. Step 1

    Assessment to confirm the diagnosis — not all persistent pain is tendinopathy.

  2. Step 2

    Imaging where the diagnosis is unclear.

  3. Step 3

    A session lasting 15 to 30 minutes. Gel is applied and the applicator placed on the skin; you feel a rapid tapping sensation.

  4. Step 4

    Mild soreness for a day or two afterwards is common and expected.

  5. Step 5

    A course of sessions, alongside a rehabilitation programme, with review to assess progress.

Questions people usually ask.

Which conditions respond best?

Plantar heel pain, tennis and golfer's elbow, patellar and Achilles tendinopathy, and greater trochanteric pain have the strongest evidence.

Do I still need physiotherapy?

Yes. Shockwave works best combined with a loading programme. On its own it achieves less.

Does it hurt?

It is uncomfortable during the session and often mildly sore afterwards. Intensity is adjusted to what you can tolerate.

How many sessions?

A course is usual. The number is agreed at assessment.

Can I keep training?

Usually with modification. Complete rest is rarely the right answer for tendon problems.

Is it better than an injection?

Different, not better. Injections can settle pain faster; shockwave targets the tendon over a longer horizon. Sometimes both have a role.

Related treatments.

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 →

Joint Injection

Our general service page for this area.

Learn more →

Physiotherapy

Our general service page for this area.

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