The Reality of Shockwave Therapy
The Reality of Shockwave Therapy: An interview with physiotherapist, Imke on working with Shockwave Therapy in practice.
Shockwave Therapy is one of the newest treatments now available in Step & Stone Health. Backed by strong research and clinical evidence, it’s still something you don’t see in every clinic across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
Since opening appointments just over a month ago, we’ve been delighted by the level of interest from patients keen to learn more about the treatment.
"Not every clinic offers Shockwave Therapy. There’s a reason it’s gaining attention."
One member of the team who has been particularly busy with it so far is our physiotherapist, Imke Vormeer. Last week, we sat down with Imke to hear her perspective on working with Shockwave Therapy in practice.
Not As Dramatic As It Sounds
When people first hear the name Shockwave Therapy, they often imagine something quite dramatic. But in reality, the concept is fairly straightforward.
We started by asking Imke what Shockwave Therapy is actually doing in the body.
Q: From a clinical perspective, what is Shockwave Therapy actually doing in the body?
“It actually sounds a bit scary when you say it but essentially it creates a small, controlled re-damage to the tissue.”
She explains that the machine delivers high-energy sound waves into the affected soft tissues. This creates controlled micro-traumas, which produce an inflammatory response in the body. Essentially, it “resets” the healing process, stimulating tissue repair.
“The idea is that it restarts the healing process. Your body realises there’s something going on in that area and starts repairing the tissue again.”
In other words, the treatment encourages the body to re-activate a healing response in areas where recovery may have slowed down. It’s a way to jumpstart the body’s natural healing response in areas that might otherwise struggle to recover.
When Injuries Refuse to Heal
Shockwave Therapy is particularly useful for injuries that have been lingering for months. Imke explains that chronic injuries can develop when the body stops responding to the damage.
Q: Why is Shockwave Therapy often used for longer-standing or chronic injuries?
“Sometimes the body almost gets used to the injury being there,” she says. “It kind of stops reacting to it.”
That’s where Shockwave Therapy comes in.
“Shockwave reminds the body - hey, there’s something going on here, you need to heal this.”
Many chronic injuries are caused by repeated stress on the same area of the body. Over time, tendons and soft tissues can struggle to repair themselves properly, particularly in areas where blood flow is limited.
It’s also common for people to continue pushing through pain without addressing the underlying issue.
“A lot of people will just take painkillers and keep going,” Imke explains. “That might reduce the pain temporarily but it doesn’t fix the problem.”
What We’re Seeing So Far
Since introducing shockwave therapy at the clinic, Imke has already used it to treat a range of common musculoskeletal conditions.
Q: What types of injuries or conditions have you treated with Shockwave Therapy so far?
“So far it's mainly tendon issues. Things like Achilles tendinitis, shoulder tendinitis, plantar fasciitis and bursitis.”
She’s also used it in cases involving scar tissue around areas like the knee or hamstring.
These are the kinds of injuries that can sometimes be slow to heal with exercise alone, which is where treatments like Shockwave Therapy can play a role.
Bringing Shockwave into Practice
Introducing the Shockwave machine has also been an exciting step for the clinic.
Q: How do you feel about using shockwave therapy in your physiotherapy practice?
“It’s really exciting. Sometimes you feel like there’s only so much you can do for certain injuries.”
Having another treatment option can make a big difference for both therapists and patients.
"It opens up new ways to help people where traditional methods can be limited. Bringing technology like this into practice feels modern and adds a new dimension to our hands-on work."
Signs of Progress
Although every patient responds differently, Imke says the early results have been encouraging.
Q: What results are you seeing so far?
“Yes, we’ve already seen some really good results.”
Some patients begin to notice improvement after only a few sessions.
“I’ve had a few people with tendon problems say that after three sessions it’s already much less sore to touch.”
Shockwave therapy isn’t suitable for every person or every condition, which is why the team takes time to make sure it’s the right option before starting treatment.
“We always go through a screening process first,” Imke explains. “Patients receive an information pack and complete a pre-screening form so we can make sure it’s safe and appropriate for them.”
This helps the team ensure patients feel informed, comfortable and confident in their treatment plan before getting started.
The Bigger Picture
Shockwave Therapy isn’t always the first step in a treatment plan.
Physiotherapy often begins with exercises, mobilisation or manual therapy depending on the condition.
Q: So would Shockwave Therapy be something you start with straight away?
“It really depends on the injury and how long someone has had it.”
Shockwave therapy can be particularly effective for long-standing injuries that haven’t responded to other treatments.
“If someone comes in with something like Achilles pain that’s been going on for months and exercises haven’t really helped, Shockwave can be a really good option.”
However, if an injury is more recent and still in the early stages of healing, Imke explains that she would usually explore other treatment options first.
“If something is still quite new or in the acute phase, I’d normally want to try other treatment approaches before using Shockwave.”
Treatment planning always looks at the bigger picture.
“We’re always thinking about what will help the patient recover long term,” she says. “Shockwave might be one part of that but things like exercise programmes to strengthen afterwards are just as important.”
Ultimately, every treatment plan is tailored to the individual.
“All of those things come into the equation when we’re deciding the best approach for a patient.”
Looking Ahead
Hearing directly from clinicians like Imke helps bring treatments like Shockwave Therapy into clearer focus.
As the team continues working with the technology, conversations like this offer a valuable insight into how modern physiotherapy is evolving and how new tools can support recovery for patients dealing with persistent injuries.
If you would like to learn more about Shockwave Therapy at Step & Stone Health, you can read through our FAQs: Shockwave Therapy in Westhill — Step & Stone Health
Or get in touch with the team directly: clinic@stepandstonehealth.co.uk
