Shockwave Therapy in Nottingham: How It Can Help You Recover Faster
- James Tomlinson
- Aug 28
- 3 min read
If you’ve been struggling with a stubborn injury that just won’t seem to heal - whether it’s plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, or chronic shoulder pain - you may have already tried rest, stretching, and even injections with little success.
That’s where Shockwave Therapy comes in.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy (also known as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, ESWT) delivers targeted acoustic energy to the injured area. Think of it as tiny sound waves that “wake up” your body’s healing response, increasing blood flow and stimulating tissue repair. Unlike surgery or injections, there are no needles, no downtime, and no strong medication required - you can usually get back to your day straight after treatment.
Conditions Shockwave Therapy Can Treat
✔ Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)
✔ Achilles tendinopathy
✔ Patellar tendinopathy (jumper’s knee)
✔ Shoulder calcific tendinitis
✔ Tennis elbow / golfer’s elbow
✔ Chronic muscle injuries
What Does the Research Say?
A 2020 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine found that Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) resulted in significant improvements in both pain reduction and functional outcomes compared with placebo.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also supports Shockwave Therapy as a treatment option for chronic tendon and soft tissue conditions (NICE Guidance – IPG278)
A 2022 systematic review demonstrated moderate evidence that combining ESWT with a loading program yields meaningful functional gains in mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy (Paantjens et al., Sports Medicine)
What to Expect During Treatment
1. Initial Assessment
Before starting, your physiotherapist will carry out a thorough assessment to make sure shockwave is the right treatment for you. At Fit2Go, this often includes using our Clarius AI-powered ultrasound scanner to confirm the diagnosis and pinpoint the exact area that needs treatment. This ensures we target the therapy precisely and safely.
2. The Treatment Process
During the session, a handheld shockwave device is placed against your skin over the affected tendon, muscle, or ligament. The device delivers rapid pulses of energy into the tissue, stimulating blood flow and kickstarting your body’s natural healing process.
3. Session Duration
Most treatments are short - usually 10 to 15 minutes per area. Depending on your condition, your physiotherapist may recommend a course of several sessions (commonly 3-6) spaced about a week apart to get the best results.
4. Sensation During Therapy
Patients often describe the sensation as tapping or pulsing against the skin. It can feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s generally well tolerated - and your physiotherapist can adjust the intensity to suit your comfort levels while still being effective.
5. Aftercare and Recovery
One of the benefits of shockwave therapy is that there’s no downtime required. You can walk out of the clinic and get back to normal daily activities straight away. We’ll usually advise avoiding high-impact exercise for 24-48 hours to give your tissues time to respond. Your physiotherapist will also guide you on rehabilitation exercises to reinforce the effects of treatment and support long-term recovery.
How Fit2Go Uses Shockwave Differently
At Fit2Go, Shockwave Therapy is never used in isolation - we combine it with the same world-class technology and expertise trusted by elite sporting institutions.
Where clinically appropriate, we use the latest VALD performance technology, AI-powered ultrasound imaging, and Footscan gait analysis to ensure that every diagnosis is accurate and measurable.
Our physiotherapists bring decades of experience working within professional sport, including teams in the Premier League (Nottingham Forest, West Ham United), Leicester Tigers, Nottingham Panthers, as well as Team GB Olympic athletes.
Where needed, we work in-house with leading surgical consultants to provide additional opinions, ensuring the most comprehensive treatment pathway.
We integrate Shockwave with other advanced therapies such as Tecar therapy, strength & conditioning programmes, and personalised rehabilitation plans.
Most importantly, our philosophy is to treat the cause, not just the symptoms, taking a truly holistic view of each patient’s journey.
This approach means you’re not just receiving a treatment - you’re benefiting from a complete, cutting-edge system of care that is normally reserved for elite athletes
Shockwave In Action: A Case Study from Fit2Go
A 34-year-old runner came to us with chronic Achilles pain. Previous treatments hadn’t worked. After 4 sessions of Shockwave Therapy combined with a progressive loading programme, her pain reduced by 70% and she returned to training within 6 weeks.
Key Takeaways
Shockwave Therapy is safe, non-invasive, and evidence-based.- Works best for chronic tendon injuries where other treatments have failed.
👉 Still struggling with pain that hasn’t shifted? Book your Shockwave Therapy consultation at Fit2Go Clinic today and take the first step towards pain-free movement.
📍 Serving Nottingham, Derby, Loughborough, Leicester and surrounding areas.
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