Assessment
A full hour on your history and how your body actually moves. You leave with a working diagnosis you understand and a clear plan you can actually follow.
Tendinopathy Adjunct
Shockwave Therapy in London
When a stubborn tendon has stopped responding to loading alone, focused shockwave therapy helps kick-start your body's own repair, delivered by our HCPC-registered physiotherapists across central London for plantar fasciitis, calcific rotator-cuff, Achilles and patellar tendon pain, always paired with a progressive rehabilitation programme so the improvement lasts.
What happens at your first appointment
We work out what is really holding you back, then agree the plan with you before you leave.
Your first appointment runs a full 60 minutes: a detailed history, then a thorough examination of how you move, your strength, and the affected area. We explain what we find in plain English and agree a working diagnosis with you.
Treatment starts the same day, and you leave with the first exercises of a plan built around your goal.
Shockwave therapy can help to:
Settle stubborn tendon pain
When a tendon has stopped responding to rest and rehab, focused shockwave aims to restart the repair process, giving persistent plantar fasciitis, Achilles and patellar pain a route forward.
Treat recalcitrant tendinopathies
We reserve shockwave for the cases that have not settled with loading alone, so you are only offered it when the assessment shows it is a sensible next step for you.
Add to your rehab, not replace it
Shockwave works best alongside a progressive loading programme, so we pair every session with the exercise that does the actual rebuilding, rather than relying on the machine alone.
Avoid injections or surgery where possible
As a non-invasive, drug-free option, shockwave can be a useful step to try before more invasive routes for a tendon that is proving slow to respond.
Get an honest review of your progress
We reassess against your baseline as we go, continue only while you are improving, and stop and rethink if you are not, so you never pay for sessions that are not earning their place.
I had a fantastic experience working with Katrina as my physiotherapist. From the start, she was incredibly friendly and genuinely listened to my concerns. She adapted my rehab plan specifically to suit my individual needs and time frame, as I was preparing for a move and had a clear goal to be back playing football. Katrina not only helped me reach that goal right on time, but she also used a variety of techniques, including dry needling and massage, to relieve tightness in the surrounding muscles and support my overall recovery. Her attention to detail, encouragement, and tailored approach made a real difference in my progress. I would recommend her to anyone looking for a physio!
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Katrina is outstanding. After struggling with a stubborn Achilles injury, she not only got me pain-free but back to running and sport. Her expertise in acupuncture, massage, and tailored rehab planning is second to none. On top of that, she brings great energy and conversation that make each session genuinely enjoyable. If you need a physio who combines real skill with a personal touch, Katrina is the one to see.
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Great experience with Katrina. She helped me with a sprained ankle with a very doable and effective treatment plan. The exercises were not overcomplicated and easy to incorporate into my day to day life which meant that I actually did them and was able to recover within 5 weeks in time to do a tough mudder. Really easy to chat to! Would recommend.
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Katrina was great with me! I had a hip injury and expected it to take ages to fix but with the exercises she gave me to do and acupuncture, it all went away quite quickly. I now have exercises I can do regularly in the future and knowledge on how to prevent. Great experience!
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Shockwave therapy fees and insurance
You can book online directly, with no GP referral needed and same-week appointments across all six clinics. If you are using private health insurance, check your policy first: some insurers ask for a GP referral before your first session.
- Initial assessment: a full 60 minutes covering your history, examination and a working diagnosis
- Follow-up treatment: 45 minutes, with your plan progressed at each visit
- Extended 60-minute treatments for complex or multi-area problems
- Recognised by Bupa, AXA Health, Vitality, Aviva, Cigna, Nuffield Health and WPA
Your journey
with Soho Physiotherapy
Everything is built around you. Whether the goal is a marathon or a comfortable commute, we find what is driving the problem, treat it, and build the strength that keeps the fix in place. Our aim is to get you better and give you the tools to stay better for the long term.
Treatment
Hands-on care to settle symptoms and restore movement: joint mobilisation, soft-tissue work and dry needling where they genuinely help, in line with national guidance.
Rebuild
Progressive exercise that returns the strength, control and load tolerance your body needs for work, sport and everything in between. This is the part that makes recovery last.
Perform
A short home programme, sensible loads, and the habits that keep problems rare. Then we discharge you: we don't sell sessions you don't need.
Move well, move freely. That has been the idea since 1997. We settle the symptoms first, then rebuild the strength that stops them coming back, so you finish stronger than when you started.
- One clinical team across six central London clinics, from Soho to Canary Wharf, with same-week appointments.
- Treating central London since 1997: 28 years and roughly 160,000 patients.
- Recognised by seven major UK insurers, including Bupa, AXA and Vitality, with self-pay welcome.
What we treat across our six London clinics
- Musculoskeletal and sports physiotherapy
- Manual therapy and progressive exercise rehabilitation
- Dry needling and Western medical acupuncture
- Sports massage and soft-tissue therapy
- Shockwave therapy for stubborn tendon problems
- Post-operative rehabilitation
- Women's and pelvic health physiotherapy
- Workplace and desk setup assessments
- Running and gait analysis
6 Locations
Shockwave therapy across our 6 London clinics
- Soho 111 Charing Cross Road, WC2H 0DT View location →
- Liverpool Street UNTIL Bishopsgate, 280 Bishopsgate, EC2M 4RB View location →
- Devonshire Row Integrity Centre, 14 Devonshire Row, EC2M 4RH View location →
- Regent Street Linen Hall, 162 Regent Street, W1B 5TB View location →
- Marylebone UNTIL Marylebone, 1 Orchard Street, W1H 6HJ View location →
- Canary Wharf 30 South Colonnade, E14 5HX View location →
FAQ
Common questions about
shockwave therapy in London
What conditions is shockwave therapy used for?
We use it for persistent tendinopathies that have not settled with loading rehabilitation: most commonly plantar fasciitis, calcific rotator-cuff tendinopathy, and Achilles or patellar tendinopathy. NICE interventional procedures guidance supports careful use in these recalcitrant cases. We do not offer it as a first-line treatment, and we will tell you if your problem is unsuitable.
Does shockwave therapy actually work?
The evidence is mixed. For some stubborn tendinopathies that have failed first-line loading, shockwave can be a useful addition, and that is the basis of NICE interventional procedures guidance. It is not a guaranteed cure and works best alongside a progressive loading programme rather than on its own. We reassess your response and stop if you are not improving.
Does the treatment hurt, and are there side effects?
Most people find it uncomfortable but tolerable; the sensation settles as soon as the applicator lifts. Temporary redness, mild swelling, or aching over the treated area for a day or two is common and usually self-limiting. We screen for contraindications at every visit, which is how we keep the treatment appropriate and safe for you.
How many sessions will I need?
Shockwave is usually given as a short course of weekly sessions, but the right number depends on your tendon, your response, and how rehabilitation is progressing. We review after each session and only continue while you are improving. We will not commit you to a fixed package or add sessions the evidence does not support for your case.
Do I need a referral, and is shockwave suitable for everyone?
No GP referral is needed: book directly via our Jane App page or by calling 020 3004 8500, starting with an assessment. Shockwave is not suitable in pregnancy, over an active infection or tumour site, with certain clotting disorders or blood-thinning medication, or for under-18s without specialist input. We confirm suitability before any treatment.
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Soho Physiotherapy • 111 Charing Cross Road, London WC2H 0DT
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