Shockwave Therapy in Chigwell & Woodford

Shockwave Therapy at Our Chigwell and Woodford Clinics

Our Chigwell and Woodford Green clinics both offer radial and focused shockwave therapy for a wide range of persistent muscle and tendon problems. If you have been suffering with pain that has not responded to physiotherapy, massage or other treatments, shockwave therapy could be the answer.

Both clinics are easily accessible by public transport and offer free or nearby parking. Appointments are available evenings and Saturdays.

Conditions We Treat

• Heel pain and plantar fasciitis
• Achilles tendinopathy (mid-tendon and insertional)
• Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis)
• Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder
• Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee)
• Shin splints
• Gluteal tendinopathy and trochanteric bursitis
• Facet joint pain (back and neck)
• Muscular trigger points
• Rotator cuff tendinopathy

Radial vs Focused Shockwave

Radial shockwave uses compressed air to generate pressure waves that spread outward from the probe. It is effective for surface-level tendon and muscle conditions.

Focused shockwave uses electromagnetic technology to concentrate energy at a precise point deep within the tissue. It is around a hundred times more powerful than radial shockwave and can treat deeper conditions such as facet joint pain and vascular erectile dysfunction. Spine Plus is one of the few clinics in Essex and East London to offer both.

How Many Sessions Will I Need?

Most conditions respond well within 4 to 12 sessions. For focused shockwave therapy, results are often seen more quickly. We recommend one session per week for most conditions.

A single shockwave session is estimated to have the same or greater effect as 6 to 8 sessions of deep friction massage. Our fees start at £85 per session, which is significantly lower than many hospital-based services.

What to Expect

At your first appointment, your therapist will take a brief case history and assess your condition. Treatment begins in the same session unless a contraindication is found. A water-based gel is applied to the treatment area, and the shockwave probe is moved gently over the target tissue. Treatment is usually well tolerated. Focused shockwave is particularly comfortable at clinically effective doses.

How Does Shockwave Therapy Help?

Shockwave therapy works by breaking down scar tissue, stimulating circulation and the growth of new blood vessels, and promoting better-quality collagen growth, helping repair injured tendons, muscles and ligaments.

Treatments should be scheduled no less than 5 days apart, so we usually recommend one session per week.

Our Full Shockwave Fees

• Initial Assessment and 1st Treatment (up to 60 mins, +/- laser, acupuncture and manual therapy as required): £105
• Follow-Up Treatments, radial shockwave therapy per area, 2000–4000 shocks, +/- laser, acupuncture and manual therapy as required: £85

Why Are We More Affordable Than Hospital-Based Shockwave Therapy?

Many private hospitals and clinics still charge prices that date back to when shockwave therapy (lithotripsy) was used for breaking up kidney stones, a procedure that had to be done in an operating theatre with nurses and consultants present, on expensive machines. When shockwave therapy moved into outpatient use for common sports injuries, most hospitals simply carried on charging the same fees.

We believe in being transparent and keeping treatment as affordable as possible. Shockwave therapy for soft tissue injuries at our clinics is delivered by a single practitioner, which keeps our overheads down, a saving we pass on to you as our client.

Additional Conditions We Also Treat

In addition to the list above, shockwave therapy can also help with chronic ligament strains, scar tissue in muscles, ligaments and tendons, capsulitis of the shoulder, and muscle strains such as pulled muscles and trigger points.

Why Choose Spine Plus in Chigwell or Woodford?

• Both radial and focused shockwave available
• Class IV laser available alongside shockwave at no extra charge
• Osteopaths and physiotherapists with postgraduate electrotherapy training
• No GP referral needed
• Same day or next day appointments usually available
• Evening and Saturday appointments
• 25 years of clinical experience