SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

The sensation is a rapid mechanical tapping against the skin. Over a tender area it can feel intense for the first 30 to 60 seconds before the pain-modulating effects start and the area numbs. Most patients describe the discomfort as a 3 to 5 out of 10 and entirely tolerable. We adjust the energy level to your tolerance and the area being treated.

The shockwave treatment itself takes about 15 minutes. In practice each visit is longer than that, because we pair shockwave with a chiropractic adjustment, manual therapy and any other techniques relevant to your case. This combined approach consistently produces better results than shockwave on its own.

The number of sessions depends on what we are treating. Most published trials use 3 to 5 sessions delivered one a week, and the dosing is reasonably consistent across the major indications. Plantar fasciitis and tennis elbow typically respond within 3 to 4 sessions. Calcific tendonitis usually needs 4 to 5 sessions for the deposit to break down. Achilles and patellar tendinopathy are most commonly treated with 3 weekly sessions paired with progressive loading. We re-assess at every visit and adjust the plan based on how you are responding rather than committing you to a fixed number up front.

Some pain relief is often felt within the first session or two. The deeper structural changes in the tissue (new blood vessels, collagen remodelling, calcium resorption) continue to develop for 6 to 12 weeks after the course ends. The biggest gains often come in the weeks after treatment is finished as the tissue continues to repair.

Shockwave is effective across a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions including muscle pain and trigger points, plantar fasciitis, tennis and golfer's elbow, Achilles tendinopathy, calcific tendonitis of the shoulder, jumper's knee, lateral hip pain, shin splints, hamstring tendinopathy, IT band syndrome and chronic neck and back tightness. It works on both new injuries and long-standing pain.

Yes, when shockwave is delivered as part of a chiropractic consultation. Shockwave produces better results when combined with a chiropractic adjustment and manual therapy, which is how we deliver it as standard. The consultation is covered by most medical aid schemes as standard chiropractic care, subject to your plan and available benefits. Send us your medical aid details and we can confirm what your specific plan covers before booking.

No. Chiropractors are primary contact practitioners in South Africa, which means you can book directly without a GP referral. We will assess your condition at your first appointment and confirm whether shockwave is the right treatment for you.

The Swiss DolorClast Smart20 is a radial shockwave device manufactured by EMS, the Swiss medical technology company, and is widely regarded as the gold standard in radial shockwave therapy. It is the most extensively researched shockwave system in clinical use, with more peer-reviewed studies behind it than any other shockwave device on the market. The majority of the published trials supporting shockwave therapy across plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, calcific tendonitis and Achilles tendinopathy were conducted using this exact technology, and it is the same equipment used in leading sports medicine and orthopaedic centres worldwide.

Cortisone reduces inflammation and pain in the short term but does not address the underlying tissue problem and can weaken the tendon with repeated use. Shockwave actively stimulates the body's own healing response, encouraging the tissue to repair rather than just suppressing the pain signal. It is non-invasive, has no injection-related risks and produces effects that build over weeks rather than wearing off.

Yes. Shockwave is one of the most effective options for pain that has not responded to rest, anti-inflammatories, cortisone or other conservative treatments. By restarting the healing response in tissue that has stopped repairing, it can shift conditions that have been stuck for months or even years.

You may feel mild tenderness, warmth or a dull ache in the treated area for 24 to 48 hours afterwards. This is the healing response getting going and is exactly what you want. We ask patients to avoid anti-inflammatory medications (like ibuprofen or diclofenac) during the course where possible, as they can blunt the very response shockwave is trying to provoke. Paracetamol is fine if you need pain relief.