Worcestershire Shockwave Therapy Clinic

What is shockwave therapy?

Spire South Bank Hospital now offers a new, non-invasive procedure to treat chronic tendinopathies involving the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, Achilles tendon and plantar fascia.

This treatment is suitable for patients who have undergone two previous treatments for their tendinopathy without success (i.e. two courses of physiotherapy, steroid injection, acupuncture etc).

The shockwave treatment induces an inflammation like response; this normalises tissue metabolism and accelerates healing. Symptom relief after shockwave therapy can take a number of weeks to occur, but many patients begin to experience symptomatic relief after the first treatment. Symptom relief does not tend to be as rapid as following a steroid injection, but studies evaluated by NICE have shown longer term success without the potential side-effects associated with steroids.

A course of shockwave treatment involves three brief sessions at weekly intervals in an outpatient setting.

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How do you access shockwave therapy?

Dr Bernd Wittkop is the Shockwave Therapy Counsultant at South Bank Hospital.

Most indications are approved by insurers. For treatment-resistant patellar, supraspinatus/rotator cuff and biceps tendinopathy insurers are able to approve shockwave treatment for these conditions on a case-by-case basis. Shockwave therapy can also be paid for under the Spire Self-Pay scheme, which allows self-funding patients to have a fixed price agreed in advance.

Referrals can be made by GPs as well as Allied Health Professionals (e.g. physiotherapists, chiropractors etc.).

To view Dr Bernd Wittkop's profile click here

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Who should have shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a well-tolerated and established treatment with NICE approval for the following indications:

• plantar fasciitis • Achilles tendinopathy • lateral epicondylitis • greater trochanteric pain syndrome • proximal hamstring tendinopathy • calcific tendinitis of the shoulder

All these indications are approved by insurers.

Shockwave therapy is also very effective for treatment resistant patellar, supraspinatus/rotator cuff and biceps tendinopathy.

There are only a few contraindications to Shockwave therapy:

• patients who have had NSAID’s in the last 2 weeks • patients who have had their last steroid injection less than 12 weeks ago • patients on anticoagulants (aspirin is acceptable) patients who develop a tumour or infection at the treatment site • pregnancy • under 18’s should not be treated; however exceptions can be made for young elite athletes

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Contact details

For more information or to see if ESWT is a suitable treatment for you, contact The Spire Imaging Centre on 01905 362 223