Focused Shockwave Therapy in Cirencester
What is Focused Shockwave?
When an injury has been troubling you for months, or traditional treatments haven't provided the improvement you'd hoped for, it can be frustrating. Simple activities such as walking, exercising, lifting or even getting comfortable can become a daily challenge.
At Active Therapy Clinic in Cirencester, we offer Focused Shockwave Therapy (F-ESWT), an advanced, non-invasive treatment designed to deliver therapeutic acoustic energy precisely to injured or painful tissues.
Unlike radial shockwave therapy, which spreads energy over a broader area, focused shockwave allows us to concentrate energy at a specific depth within the body.
This makes it a valuable treatment option for certain deeper or more localised injuries, particularly persistent tendon problems and calcific conditions.
Whether you're struggling with ongoing heel pain, a stubborn Achilles injury or a painful shoulder that hasn't responded to conventional treatment, focused shockwave may offer another route forward.
Benefits of Focused Shockwave Therapy
Not all injuries are the same, and not all tissues sit at the same depth.
Focused shockwave allows us to adapt treatment to the location and nature of your injury, delivering acoustic energy to a more precisely defined area.
The potential benefits include:
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Precision targeting: Concentrates therapeutic energy at a selected depth within the affected tissue.
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Treatment of deeper structures: Can reach tissues that may be less accessible with radial shockwave.
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Supports natural repair processes: Mechanical stimulation may encourage cellular responses involved in tissue recovery.
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Helps manage persistent pain: Can provide pain relief and functional improvement in selected long-standing musculoskeletal conditions.
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Non-invasive treatment: No surgical incisions or injections are required.
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Minimal disruption: Treatments are generally brief, with most patients able to continue normal everyday activities subject to clinical advice.
Our aim isn't simply to reduce pain temporarily. It's to help you return to the activities you enjoy with greater confidence, comfort and movement.
How Does Focused Shockwave Therapy Work?
Focused Shockwave Therapy uses high-energy acoustic pressure waves generated outside the body and directed towards a specific treatment area.
These waves travel through the tissues and converge at a selected depth, where the mechanical energy interacts with the targeted structures.
This process, known as mechanotransduction, can stimulate biological responses associated with pain modulation, tissue remodelling and repair.
In simple terms, focused shockwave uses carefully directed acoustic energy to encourage a response in tissues that may have struggled to recover.
Unlike surgery or injections, treatment does not require breaking the skin, and there is usually no significant recovery period.
The energy level, treatment depth and number of applications can be adjusted according to your condition, tolerance and clinical requirements.
Focused vs Radial Shockwave Therapy – What's the Difference?
At Active Therapy Clinic, we offer both radial and focused shockwave therapy because different injuries may benefit from different treatment approaches.
Radial shockwave creates pressure waves that spread outwards from the treatment head, with their greatest intensity near the skin's surface.
It can be particularly useful for more superficial musculoskeletal problems, including certain tendon injuries and painful soft tissues.
We already incorporate radial shockwave therapy into appropriate physiotherapy and osteopathy treatment plans at no additional cost.
Focused Shockwave Therapy
Focused shockwave uses a different method of generating acoustic energy. Rather than distributing the energy broadly, the waves are concentrated at a chosen depth.
This allows us to target specific tissues more precisely, including certain deeper tendon structures and areas of calcification.
Why might we recommend focused shockwave instead of radial?
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Your injury is located deeper within the tissues.
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A more concentrated application of energy is desirable.
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You have a localised tendon problem or calcific shoulder tendinopathy.
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Your condition hasn't improved sufficiently with previous treatment.
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Your assessment indicates that focused shockwave may be a more suitable option.
Is focused shockwave better than radial shockwave?
Not necessarily. Both have established uses, and research has not shown that one consistently produces better outcomes for every condition.
The advantage of offering both is that we can recommend the technology most appropriate for your particular problem.
We don't believe in using more advanced treatment simply because it's available. We believe in using it when there's a good clinical reason to do so.
What Conditions Can Focused Shockwave Therapy Help Treat?
Focused shockwave therapy is used in the management of several persistent musculoskeletal conditions, particularly where pain has become long-standing or recovery has been slower than expected.
Plantar Fasciitis & Persistent Heel Pain
If your first steps in the morning are painful, or heel pain continues despite stretching, footwear changes and rehabilitation, shockwave therapy may be an option.
Focused shockwave can direct energy towards the affected plantar fascia, helping to manage pain and support a return to comfortable walking.
Achilles Tendinopathy
Achilles tendon pain can make running, walking uphill or even everyday activity difficult.
Focused shockwave may be considered for persistent Achilles tendinopathy, particularly when combined with an appropriate strengthening and loading programme.
Calcific Shoulder Tendinopathy
Calcium deposits within the rotator cuff tendons can cause significant shoulder pain, stiffness and disturbed sleep.
Focused shockwave has an established role in treating certain calcific shoulder conditions. Appropriate treatment protocols may help reduce symptoms and, in some cases, encourage changes in calcium deposits.
Patellar Tendinopathy (Jumper's Knee)
Pain around the patellar tendon can be especially frustrating for runners and people who enjoy jumping sports.
Focused shockwave may be considered alongside progressive strengthening when tendon pain becomes persistent.
Tennis Elbow & Golfer's Elbow
Repeated gripping, lifting and repetitive arm movements can lead to prolonged tendon pain around the elbow.
Focused shockwave is one of several treatments that may be considered for persistent elbow tendinopathy, particularly when rehabilitation alone has not provided sufficient relief.
Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome (Outer Hip Pain)
Pain on the outside of the hip can interfere with walking, climbing stairs and lying on your side.
In selected cases of persistent lateral hip tendon pain, focused shockwave may provide an additional treatment option alongside targeted rehabilitation.
Not every condition requires focused shockwave. Following assessment, we may recommend radial shockwave, strengthening exercises or another treatment if these are more appropriate.
What Happens During Focused Shockwave Treatment?
Your treatment begins with understanding the problem.
We'll review your symptoms, medical history, previous treatments and the activities that are being affected. Where appropriate, existing imaging findings may also help guide our recommendations.
Once we've established that focused shockwave is suitable:
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Locate the treatment area: Your clinician identifies the relevant tissue and treatment location.
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Apply the treatment: A coupling gel is applied to the skin, and acoustic energy is delivered through a handheld applicator.
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Adjust the settings: Treatment intensity and depth are selected according to your condition and tolerance.
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Plan your recovery: We provide advice about activity, rehabilitation exercises and the next stage of treatment.
The shockwave application itself generally takes only a few minutes.
Most patients can return to their usual daily routine afterwards, although temporary soreness can occur and some activities may need modifying.
Focused Shockwave Cost
Initial Consultation required before starting a course
One-off treatment - £85
x5 treatment Package - £400