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- SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
Shockwave Therapy in Stoke Newington
Safe, effective, non-surgical alternative treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain and injury.
Kick start your body’s natural healing mechanisms.
Longstanding musculoskeletal pain can be frustrating, debilitating and even life-changing. If this sounds familiar, Shockwave Therapy could be the answer you’ve been looking for.
As well as accelerating healing, Shockwave Therapy can also reduce swelling, restore mobility and, in many cases, remove your need for surgery altogether.
Shockwave Therapy is completely safe, non-invasive and incredibly effective, with 80-90% of patients reporting significant or total pain relief within three months of treatment.
Struggling with chronic tendon pain?
Suffering from a stubborn sporting injury that just won’t heal?
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Shockwave Therapy work?
Shockwave Therapy works by passing acoustic shockwaves through damaged tissues, stimulating your body’s self-healing mechanisms.Â
The impulses are delivered to the painful area through a hand held device that is connected to a Shockwave machine. During treatment, contact gel is applied to the skin to improve the transmission of the shockwave.
The shockwaves cause micro-trauma to the tissues, encouraging new small blood vessels to form. This improves blood flow to the area, relieving pain and helping your body to self-heal.
Is Shockwave Therapy safe?
We understand that Shockwave Therapy may sound a little daunting! But rest assured, the treatment is 100% safe.Â
Shockwave Therapy has been extensively researched for safety and effectiveness for over 20 years, and is approved and recommended by The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE). The waves are purely mechanical and not electric.
All our practitioners are fully trained in SWT and specialise in treating a wide range of tendonopathies — so you are in the very best of hands!
How successful is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy has a high success rate across a vast range of conditions, with 80-90% of patients reporting a significant or total reduction in pain within 3 months of treatment. In fact, 20% of patients see an improvement within just 2 weeks of treatment.
A small percentage of patients do not respond to the treatment. This is often due to the underlying health of the tissues, and can usually be determined within 5 weeks of the initial treatment.
Like all treatments, success cannot be guaranteed. But in most cases, Shockwave Therapy is extremely effective in treating common tendinopathies, reducing the need for surgical intervention.
How many treatments will I need?
Before any treatment begins, we recommend an initial consultation to assess if SWT is required and to discuss a treatment plan. This includes a ‘taster-session’, where you can try out the therapy and see how it feels.
As the effects of Shockwave Therapy are cumulative, we recommend 3 to 5 treatments for most conditions. We offer a minimum of 3 initial sessions, delivered on a weekly basis. Depending on your body’s response to the treatment, 1 or 2 booster sessions may then be recommended. These can be spread over several weeks.
The treatment course will be followed by 3 to 5 subsequent appointments, consisting of regular osteopathic treatment and rehabilitation exercises. It is vital that you do these exercises, as they allow the tissue to reform and the tendon to heal — significantly aiding your recovery.Â
The complete treatment process takes between 12 to 16 weeks.
Do I need to do anything different prior to Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy is a straightforward, non-invasive treatment that requires little preparation. However, you will be asked to stop any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications for 14 days prior to the course of treatment. This allows the body’s natural healing mechanisms to respond effectively.
How quickly can I expect results?
Shockwave Therapy can provide immediate pain relief, with many patients reporting improvement after the first session.Â
However, the full benefits of SWT will not be felt until 12 to 16 weeks after the last treatment. This is because it takes this long for tissues to remodel themselves. This is one of the reasons your rehabilitation programme is so essential for the long-term success of Shockwave Therapy.
How much does the treatment cost?
We offer an initial Shockwave Therapy consultation, priced at £100.
For tendon-related conditions, we recommend a minimum treatment bundle of 3 sessions, priced at £260. Additional booster sessions are priced at £100 each. These will be advised by your practitioner, depending on your body’s response to the treatment.
One-off Shockwave Therapy pain relief treatments are priced at £100 per session.
What does the therapy feel like? Does it hurt?
Shockwave Therapy may feel uncomfortable for some. While many patients report no unpleasant sensations during treatment, others can experience some pain and discomfort.
Throughout your treatment, your osteopath will communicate with you to ensure they are working within your comfort zone. If you are experiencing pain, let your practitioner know and they will adjust the impulse level accordingly. The treatments are very short, lasting just 2 to 3 minutes at a time.
If you have any concerns about Shockwave Therapy, please give us a call. We are happy to talk you through the process and help put your mind at ease.
Does the treatment have any side effects?
The side effects of Shockwave Therapy are minimal. However, as the therapy stimulates your body’s natural healing response, it is natural to feel some discomfort after your treatment. For the majority of patients, this pain is tolerable and fades within a few days.
Following your treatment, you may also experience reddening of the skin, but this should settle within 3 to 5 days. Very rarely, patients experience mild bruising in the targeted area. We will ensure that these effects have faded before continuing with your treatment.
When is Shockwave Therapy not advised?
The National Institute for Health & Care Excellence (NICE) advises against treatment in the following cases:
• If you are pregnant
• If you have a blood clotting disorder (including thrombosis)
• If you are taking oral anti-coagulants
• If you have received a steroid injection in the tendon within the last 6 weeks
• If you have a Pacemaker fitted
• If tumours are present at the treatment site
• If you have an infection or skin abrasion at the treatment site
• If you are under 18 (except in the treatment of Osgood-Schlatter disease
• If the treatment site is over an air-filled area, including the lungs or bowels