Radial Shockwave Therapy near Harley Street
Radial shockwave therapy is available through Shockwave Therapy Harley Street at UNTIL Marylebone, 1 Orchard Street, a 13-minute walk from Harley Street: the commoner of the two shockwave machines, used for tendon pain close to the skin.
- No fee to enquire
- UNTIL Marylebone, W1H 6HJ
- 13 minutes from Harley Street
The short answer
What is radial shockwave therapy?
Radial shockwave therapy is the form of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) made by a pneumatic device: compressed air fires a small projectile against the applicator head, and the pressure wave spreads out from the point of contact. NICE describes the energy as strongest at the skin and spreading outward, which is why radial treatment suits tendons that sit close to the surface.
It is the machine most physiotherapy rooms have. If a private quote says "shockwave" without saying which kind, it is usually radial, and it is worth asking.
How radial shockwave treatment works
Gel goes on the skin over the painful tendon, and the practitioner moves the applicator across the area while it fires pulses. Because the wave spreads from the skin, radial treatment covers a broad patch rather than a single point, and it is not aimed with ultrasound.
The machine is set by air pressure in bar and by how many pulses it fires a second. In a 2021 trial of 46 people with shoulder tendon pain, the radial group had 4 sessions of 3,000 pulses at about 4 bar. Ask your practitioner what settings they plan to use and why: it tells you they have a plan.
What happens in a radial shockwave session
The setting
The practitioner sets the air pressure in bar, the number of pulses a second and the total number of pulses. In one published trial the radial group received 3,000 pulses at about 4 bar and 3 a second.
The pulse
Compressed air drives a projectile into the applicator head, which passes a pressure wave into the skin. The energy is highest at the surface and spreads outward, so the practitioner moves the applicator across the painful area.
Afterwards
You walk out after about 10 to 20 minutes. Soreness for 1 to 3 days is usual, the loading exercises carry on, and the next session is usually about a week later.
What radial shockwave is used for
Radial treatment is used for tendon and soft-tissue pain close to the surface: the plantar fascia under the heel, the Achilles tendon, the outside of the elbow and the point of the hip. NICE has assessed shockwave for each of those four conditions and found no major safety concerns and inconsistent evidence that it works, so it is a second-line option once the loading exercises have been given a fair try.
A deeper target, or a calcific deposit in a shoulder tendon, is where a practitioner may suggest the focused machine instead.
Radial or focused shockwave?
One head-to-head trial, in 46 people with shoulder tendon pain, found no difference between radial and focused treatment for the first 24 weeks, and lower pain with focused treatment at 24 and 48 weeks. One small trial in one tendon does not settle the question for a heel or an elbow. How focused shockwave therapy differs, and shockwave physiotherapy near Harley Street covers both.
Radial shockwave price at UNTIL Marylebone
The physiotherapy practice at UNTIL Marylebone that uses a radial device publishes £150 for a single session and £400 for a course of 3, checked on 29 September 2026. Shockwave Therapy Harley Street sets no price and charges nothing for arranging the assessment. London shockwave prices compared.
Areas treated
Radial shockwave benefits
- Treats a broad area of tendon close to the skin
- Needs no anaesthetic at low energy
- The commonest device, so it is widely available
- Given alongside the loading exercises, in sessions of 10 to 20 minutes
FAQ
Radial shockwave
FAQs
What is radial shockwave therapy used for?
Tendon pain close to the skin: the heel and plantar fascia, the Achilles, the outside of the elbow and the point of the hip. It is a second-line option once exercise has been tried. Shockwave Therapy Harley Street arranges an assessment first, because the diagnosis decides whether it suits you.
Is radial shockwave therapy painful?
Most people find it uncomfortable rather than painful: a rapid tapping that is sharper over the sorest spot. The practitioner starts low and builds up to a level you can tolerate. Shockwave Therapy Harley Street suggests saying so during the session if it is too much, since the setting can be lowered.
How is radial shockwave dose set?
By air pressure in bar, by the number of pulses a second and by the total pulses in a session. In one published trial the radial group had 3,000 pulses at about 4 bar. Shockwave Therapy Harley Street suggests asking your practitioner what settings they plan and why.
Is radial shockwave available at UNTIL Marylebone?
Yes. A physiotherapy practice at UNTIL Marylebone, 1 Orchard Street, uses a radial device and publishes £150 a session and £400 for 3. Shockwave Therapy Harley Street arranges assessments there through UNTIL Health Concierge, 13 minutes on foot from the south end of Harley Street.
Get Started
Ask for an assessment before you pay for a course.
At UNTIL Marylebone, near Harley Street.
Shockwave Therapy Harley Street • UNTIL Marylebone, 1 Orchard Street, London W1H 6HJ
Enquire About ShockwaveNo fee to enquire. You agree the practitioner's fee before the first session.