Shockwave Therapy in Carryduff, Belfast.
£75 per session. Assessment required first. No GP referral needed. Free parking on site.
Sound waves that get a stubborn injury healing again.
Shockwave therapy delivers high energy acoustic pulses through a handpiece held against the painful area. The pulses travel into the tissue underneath and do three things: they increase blood flow to an area that has lost it, they break down the disorganised scar tissue that builds up in a long standing tendon problem, and they provoke the controlled inflammatory response the body needs in order to start repairing properly again.
Tendons and fascia that have been painful for months are often not inflamed any more. They are stalled. The tissue has stopped behaving like something that is healing and started behaving like something the body has given up on. Shockwave is one of the few treatments that reliably restarts that process, which is why it is used for exactly the problems that have not responded to rest, stretching, ice and good footwear.
We use the Swiss DolorClast system from EMS, one of the most widely researched shockwave devices in clinical use. Shockwave works best alongside a loading programme rather than instead of one, so your plan will usually include specific strengthening work as well as the sessions themselves.
Best evidenced for heel pain. Used well beyond it.
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
The strongest evidence base shockwave has. A substantial body of randomised trials supports its use in heel pain that has not responded to first line treatment, and it is the problem we use it for most often.
Achilles tendinopathy
A well established option for a stubborn Achilles, used alongside a loading programme rather than instead of one. We treat both mid portion and insertional problems.
Other stubborn tendons
We also use shockwave for tendon and soft tissue problems elsewhere in the body that have not settled with loading alone. If shockwave is not the right answer for your problem, we will tell you at your assessment.
From assessment to discharge.
- Step 1
Your assessment
Shockwave cannot be booked directly, because it is not right for everyone and some medical conditions and medications rule it out or need extra care. Your assessment confirms the diagnosis, checks your history, and tells you honestly whether shockwave is the right answer for you.
- Step 2
Your first session
The handpiece is applied to the area for a few minutes. Most people describe it as feeling like an intense massage gun: uncomfortable rather than painful. We set the intensity to what you can tolerate and build it up as we go.
- Step 3
The course
Sessions are usually a week apart and most people need three to four, though this varies. We charge per session, so there is no course to buy up front and you can stop at any point.
- Step 4
Review and discharge
We reassess as we go and progress your loading programme alongside the sessions. Improvement usually builds over the weeks after treatment finishes rather than appearing immediately. When the job is done we discharge you.
Clear pricing, before you book.
- Shockwave therapyPer session, 30 minutes£75
- Foot, Heel and Lower Limb Pain Assessment60 minutesGait analysis includedPodiatry ledRequired before your first session£120
- An assessment is always required before your first shockwave session, so we know it is the right answer for you.
- Your Foot, Heel and Lower Limb Pain Assessment is 60 minutes and includes video gait analysis, Footscan pressure plate analysis and VALD strength testing.
- Most people need three to four sessions, usually a week apart.
- There is no course to buy up front. You pay session by session and you can stop at any point.
- If shockwave is not the right treatment for you, we will tell you at your assessment.
- Payment is by card.
Shockwave therapy for problems above the knee — shoulder, elbow or hip — is delivered through our physiotherapy service.
Recognised by insurance companies.
Our physiotherapy service is recognised by AXA, Vitality, WPA and Aviva, and our podiatry service is registered with WPA. If you have cover, some or all of your shockwave treatment may be claimable depending on your policy.
Cover for shockwave therapy varies between policies and between employers, and many policies require a referral before they will pay. Please check directly with your insurer before your appointment, and contact the clinic on 028 9079 6666 if you need any paperwork or details for your claim.
What patients say about shockwave therapy at Assure Health.
Verified Google reviews from patients treated with shockwave therapy at our clinic in Carryduff, Belfast.
“Fantastic treatment & service provided by Jack. Suffering from chronic foot pain, Jack took the care to go through a thorough biomechanic assessment of the issues and explain the causes of the pain and the next steps in fixing it. The shockwave therapy treatment provided left my foot feeling better than it has at any time in the last 6 months. Couldn't recommend more”
Frequently asked questions.
How much does shockwave therapy cost in Belfast?
At Assure Health in Carryduff, Belfast, shockwave therapy is £75 per session and sessions last 30 minutes. An assessment is required before your first session: the Foot, Heel and Lower Limb Pain Assessment is £120 for 60 minutes. There is no course to buy up front.
How many shockwave therapy sessions will I need?
Most people need three to four sessions, usually a week apart, though this varies with how long the problem has been there and how it responds. We reassess as we go and tell you honestly if it is not working. You pay session by session, so you are never committed to a course.
Does shockwave therapy hurt?
Most people describe it as feeling like an intense massage gun. It is uncomfortable rather than painful, each session only takes a few minutes, and we set the intensity to what you can tolerate and build it up as we go. There is no anaesthetic and no downtime, so you can walk out and carry on with your day.
Can I use my private health insurance for shockwave therapy?
Our physiotherapy service at Assure Health is recognised by AXA, Vitality, WPA and Aviva, and our podiatry service is registered with WPA. Whether shockwave therapy specifically is covered depends on your individual policy, and many policies require a referral before they will pay, so please check directly with your insurer before booking. Call us on 028 9079 6666 if you need paperwork or clinic details for your claim.
Do you do shockwave therapy for AXA patients?
Yes. Our physiotherapy service at Assure Health in Carryduff, Belfast is recognised by AXA. Cover for shockwave therapy varies between AXA policies and between employer schemes, and AXA usually requires a referral or pre-authorisation before treatment, so check with them first. We can provide receipts and clinic details for your claim.
Do I need a GP referral for shockwave therapy?
No. You can book an assessment directly at Assure Health in Carryduff, Belfast, online or by phone. If you want to claim on private health insurance, your insurer may require a referral, which is a separate question from booking with us.
Can I book shockwave therapy directly?
No. Shockwave therapy at Assure Health requires an assessment first. Shockwave is not suitable for everyone, and some medical conditions and medications rule it out or need extra care, so we confirm the diagnosis and check your medical history before starting treatment.
What conditions can shockwave therapy treat?
The strongest evidence is for plantar fasciitis and heel pain that has not responded to first line treatment. We also use it for Achilles tendinopathy and other stubborn tendon and soft tissue problems. If shockwave is not the right answer for your problem, we will tell you at your assessment.
How soon will I feel a difference after shockwave therapy?
Improvement usually builds over the weeks during and after your course rather than appearing immediately, because shockwave works by restarting the body's own repair process. Some people feel the area is a little tender for a day or two after a session. We reassess at every visit so you can see whether it is working.
Where can I get shockwave therapy near Belfast?
Assure Health is at 127 Ballynahinch Road, Carryduff, Belfast BT8 8DJ, about fifteen minutes from Belfast city centre, with free parking on site. We see shockwave patients from Belfast, Lisburn, Bangor, Newtownards, Downpatrick and across Northern Ireland. We are open Monday 9am to 6pm, Tuesday 8am to 8pm, Thursday 8am to 8pm, Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 10am to 1pm, and closed Wednesday and Sunday.
Related conditions we treat
Find out whether shockwave is the right answer.
Assessment first, then £75 per session. Same week appointments usually available in Carryduff, Belfast.