Radial Shockwave Therapy Brisbane

Radial shockwave therapy delivers ballistic pressure pulses through the skin into tender soft tissue. The pulse is strongest at the surface, so this is mainly a treatment for muscle and fascia, though it can be taken deeper in some areas. Where the target is a tendon, joint, ligament or bone, we generally use focused shockwave instead.

We use a STORZ Medical MASTERPULS icon radial shockwave system.

What it can help with

Tender, tight muscle and fascia — paraspinal, gluteal, calf, forearm
Myofascial pain contributing to neck, back or hip symptoms
Broad surface tenderness around a painful joint or tendon
Plantar heel pain across the sole and calf
Mid-portion Achilles pain, which sits shallow enough to reach

Suitability depends on your individual diagnosis and is assessed at consultation.

STORZ Medical MASTERPULS icon

Interchangeable transmitters, matched to the tissue being treated.

The handpiece takes interchangeable transmitters chosen for the tissue in front of us. Standard radial heads cover the conventional indications; PERI-ACTOR transmitters are shaped for fascial treatment; SPINE-ACTOR transmitters are designed for the muscle either side of the spine. Intensity, frequency and total pulse count are set for the area and adjusted during the session to a level you can tolerate. The energy is greatest at the skin and falls away with depth, which is why this is primarily a treatment for muscle and fascia.

Radial shockwave therapy is a non-invasive, in-clinic treatment for tendon and soft-tissue pain. A handpiece is moved over the tender tissue while pressure pulses are delivered through the skin, with the aim of reducing pain and improving how the area tolerates load.

It sits at stage three of our treatment pathway. That means it is considered once the diagnosis is clear and a progressive loading programme has been given a genuine trial, usually around three months. For many people the loading work is enough on its own, and shockwave is not needed.

If you are not yet sure which form suits your problem, our shockwave therapy overview compares the two side by side.

Radial and focused shockwave are different treatments and are used for different targets. Radial energy is strongest at the surface, making it well suited to broad, superficial tenderness such as the mid-portion Achilles or the soft tissue around a painful knee. Focused shockwave concentrates energy at depth, and is preferred where the painful structure is deeper or precisely localised — an insertional tendon attachment, for example.

Whether shockwave is appropriate for your problem is assessed at consultation, along with the current evidence for your specific diagnosis, the expected benefit, the cost and the alternatives.

How it works

We use a STORZ Medical MASTERPULS icon radial system. A radial device accelerates a projectile against an applicator held on the skin, producing a pressure wave that spreads out from the contact point. The wave is strongest at the surface and weakens with depth — which is the key difference from focused shockwave, where the energy converges at a set depth inside the tissue. The two are commonly both called "shockwave", but they are not the same treatment, and we list them separately for that reason.

That difference decides which one you get. Radial suits muscle and fascia, because that is the tissue sitting where the energy is greatest. Tendon, joint, ligament and bone all sit deeper, and for those we generally use focused shockwave. Radial can be taken deeper in some areas — the mid-portion Achilles is one place where a superficial tendon makes it reasonable — but that is the exception rather than the rule.

Newer radial systems, including ours, are built to extend further into the tissue than earlier radial devices, and the manufacturer describes this as narrowing the gap between radial and focused treatment. That claim rests on laboratory testing rather than on clinical trials comparing the two in patients, so we treat it as a reason to keep an open mind about depth, not as a reason to use radial where a focused device is the better tool.

The proposed mechanism is mechanotransduction: cells sense the acoustic energy and respond with signalling that can improve local blood flow and reduce pain sensitisation. This is a plausible and reasonably well-studied idea in tendon tissue, though it does not follow that every painful structure responds.

What the evidence shows

The evidence for shockwave is strongest in chronic tendinopathy. Multiple randomised trials and systematic reviews report improvement in pain and function when shockwave is combined with a progressive loading programme, and in several tendon presentations the combination has outperformed loading alone. Plantar heel pain and mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy are the best-supported indications. Outside tendon problems the picture is weaker. In knee osteoarthritis the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons states that shockwave may improve pain and function, but the recommendation is limited because the evidence is inconsistent. Trials in spinal and nerve presentations are small and heterogeneous. Reported adverse effects across the literature are generally minor and short-lived — local soreness, redness or bruising. Where the evidence is mixed for your specific diagnosis, we will say so, and the label on your condition page reflects it.

What to expect

A typical course is four to six sessions about a week apart, each around fifteen minutes. No anaesthetic is used and there is no formal downtime — you walk out and carry on with your day. Most people describe the treatment as uncomfortable rather than painful, and intensity is adjusted during the session. Change is usually gradual across the course and often still developing for some weeks after the final session. You continue your loading programme throughout; shockwave is intended to work alongside it, not instead of it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between radial and focused shockwave?

A radial device produces a pressure wave that is strongest at the skin and weakens with depth. A focused device produces a true shock wave that converges at a set depth inside the tissue. In practice that means radial is used mostly for muscle and fascia, and focused is used for tendon, joint, ligament and bone. Radial can be taken deeper in some areas, but where the target is a deep structure, focused is the appropriate form.

Does radial shockwave hurt?

Most people describe it as uncomfortable rather than painful. The intensity is adjusted during the session, and any soreness afterwards usually settles within a day.

How soon might I notice a change?

Change is usually gradual across the course rather than immediate, and is often still developing for some weeks after the last session. Results vary between people and between conditions.

Can I keep training?

Usually yes, with the loads adjusted. Shockwave is intended to work alongside a loading programme, not to replace one.

Who should not have shockwave?

Suitability is assessed individually. Pregnancy, treatment over a nerve or major vessel, active infection in the area, some bleeding disorders and anticoagulation are among the things we check before proceeding.

Is it covered by Medicare?

There is no specific Medicare item number for shockwave itself. It is delivered as part of a musculoskeletal treatment plan during a standard GP consultation, so the appointment is billed under the time-based GP consultation items, which attract a Medicare rebate. Appointments are not bulk billed, so an out-of-pocket gap applies. We confirm current fees with you beforehand.

Ready for a clearer plan for your back or musculoskeletal pain?

Book an assessment with Dr Joshua Hatch.

Your assessment focuses on understanding the likely source of your pain and the most appropriate non-surgical options for your diagnosis, with the aim of reducing pain and improving function.

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