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Shockwave Therapy in Dublin

By Dr Lawrence Woods

Shockwave therapy (extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or ESWT) is a treatment for some long-term tendon and soft-tissue problems. The evidence for it varies a lot from one condition to another. This page explains what shockwave is, where the research supports it and where it does not, and how we use it at our clinic in Monkstown, Co. Dublin.

What is shockwave therapy?

A handheld applicator is placed on the skin over the painful area, with gel, and delivers short pulses of pressure waves into the tissue. We have two types:

  • Radial shockwave spreads the energy over a wider, shallower area.
  • Focused shockwave concentrates the energy at a chosen depth.

A course is usually a few sessions about a week apart. Exactly how shockwave may help is not fully understood.

What does the research show?

Before you decide, we tell you honestly how strong the evidence is for your condition.

Where there is some support

  • Calcium deposits in a shoulder tendon (calcific tendinopathy): in a German trial of 144 people, focused shockwave improved shoulder function and pain and reduced the size of the deposits compared with sham (placebo) shockwave over 12 months [1]. See our calcific tendonitis page.
  • Plantar heel pain that has not settled with basic care: a 2021 best-practice guide supports adding shockwave if the basics are not working [2], but a large 2024 trial found no extra benefit from radial shockwave when people already had advice and custom insoles [3]. NICE says the evidence on how well it works is inconsistent [4]. See our plantar fasciitis page.
  • Gluteal tendinopathy (outer hip pain): a 2024 review found some short-term benefit, mainly from focused shockwave, but most trials had a high risk of bias [5]. Education and exercise come first. See our gluteal tendinopathy page.

Where the research does not support it

  • Achilles tendinopathy: a 2026 review of 9 trials found no meaningful benefit over sham shockwave [6]. See our Achilles tendinopathy page.
  • Patellar tendinopathy (jumper's knee): adding shockwave to exercise gave no extra benefit in a trial [7].
  • Tennis elbow: a Cochrane review of 9 placebo-controlled trials found little or no benefit [8].
  • Recent (acute) back or neck pain: in a trial of people with acute low back pain, radial shockwave gave less relief than sham [9]. We do not use shockwave for recent back or neck pain.

How we use shockwave

  • Not as a first treatment. We consider it for long-standing problems that have not improved with good exercise-based care. Where the research does not support it, we will tell you that before you decide.
  • Alongside exercise. Shockwave is an addition to your exercise programme, not a replacement for it.
  • With an honest explanation first. We explain what the evidence shows for your condition, what to expect and the alternatives, and give you written information, as NICE advises [4]. Shockwave is always optional.

Our clinic in Monkstown, Co. Dublin is led by Dr Lawrence Woods, a chiropractor with over 30 years' experience, and Kate Ryan, a CORU-registered Chartered Physiotherapist and member of the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP), who has a special interest in running injuries and tendinopathy.

Questions about shockwave therapy

Does shockwave hurt?

It can be uncomfortable or painful during treatment. Tell your clinician and they can reduce the intensity. You may be sore for a day or two afterwards. Read more: does shockwave therapy hurt?

Is it safe?

NICE has found no major safety concerns with shockwave for plantar fasciitis [4]. Side effects are usually mild and short-lived, such as soreness, redness or small bruises. It is not suitable for everyone. For example, we do not use it in pregnancy, over areas of cancer or infection, if you have a bleeding disorder or take blood thinners, over growing bones in children, or soon after a steroid injection in the same area. We check this before treatment.

Can I train after shockwave?

Usually yes, but we suggest avoiding hard training for a day or two after a session, then carrying on with your exercise programme.

If you would like an assessment, you can book an appointment, start with our online questionnaire, or contact us with any questions.

Sources

  1. Gerdesmeyer L, Wagenpfeil S, Haake M, et al. (2003). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic calcifying tendonitis of the rotator cuff. JAMA 290(19):2573–2580. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.290.19.2573
  2. Morrissey D, Cotchett M, Said J'Bari A, et al. (2021). Management of plantar heel pain: a best practice guide informed by a systematic review, expert clinical reasoning and patient values. British Journal of Sports Medicine 55(19):1106–1118. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2019-101970
  3. Heide M, Røe C, Mørk M, et al. (2024). Is radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT), sham-rESWT or a standardised exercise programme in combination with advice plus customised foot orthoses more effective than advice plus customised foot orthoses alone in the treatment of plantar fasciopathy? A double-blind, randomised, sham-controlled trial. British Journal of Sports Medicine 58(16):910–918. https://doi.org/10.1136/bjsports-2024-108139
  4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2009). Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for refractory plantar fasciitis (IPG311). https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ipg311
  5. Rhim HC, Shin J, Beling A, et al. (2024). Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for greater trochanteric pain syndrome: a systematic review with meta-analysis. JBJS Reviews 12(8). https://doi.org/10.2106/JBJS.RVW.24.00091
  6. Korakakis V, Kotsifaki A, Sotiralis Y, et al. (2026). Shockwave therapy for midportion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy: a nail in the coffin? A systematic review with meta-analysis. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy 56(5):282–299. https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.2026.13985
  7. Thijs KM, Zwerver J, Backx FJG, et al. (2017). Effectiveness of shockwave treatment combined with eccentric training for patellar tendinopathy: a double-blinded randomized study. Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine 27(2):89–96. https://doi.org/10.1097/JSM.0000000000000332
  8. Buchbinder R, Green SE, Youd JM, et al. (2005). Shock wave therapy for lateral elbow pain. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD003524. https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003524.pub2
  9. Lange T, Deventer N, et al. (2021). Effectiveness of radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy in patients with acute low back pain: randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Medicine 10(23):5569. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm10235569