Dr Richard Shaffer is a specialist doctor treating joint and tendon conditions with non-surgical radiotherapy treatment in London, Guildford, Nottingham and 12 other centres in England.
He is a global expert in the use of low-dose radiotherapy for benign (non-cancer) conditions and has treated more than 3000 patients with radiotherapy for benign conditions, including Dupuytren's, Ledderhose, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, keloid scars, osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, and bursitis.
Dr Shaffer sees patients for consultations in London, Guildford and Nottingham. His patients can get treatment at 15 centres in England (Central London, London Wimbledon, Elstree, Guildford, Southampton, Portsmouth, Oxford, Cambridge, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol, Chelmsford, Milton Keynes, Maidstone, Windsor).
He treats the following conditions:
- Hand and wrist - Dupuytren's disease (Dupuytren's contracture), finger osteoarthritis, thumb osteoarthritis, wrist osteoarthritis, de Quervain's tenosynovitis
- Elbow - tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis), elbow osteoarthritis, elbow bursitis
- Shoulder - rotator cuff tendinopathy, shoulder tendon injuries and strains, biceps tendonitis, shoulder osteoarthritis, acromio-clavicular joint osteoarthritis (AC joint osteoarthritis)
- Foot and ankle - plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, Achilles bursitis, Ledderhose disease (plantar fibromatosis), hallux rigidus (big toe osteoarthritis), ankle osteoarthritis, midfoot osteoarthritis, foot joint arthritis
- Knee - knee osteoarthritis, retropatellar osteoarthritis, patellar tendonitis (jumper's knee), knee bursitis
- Hip and pelvis - hip osteoarthritis, trochanteric bursitis, hip bursitis, GTPS, greater trochanteric pain syndrome, ischial bursitis, hamstring tendinopathy
Dr Shaffer is also
Medical Director of Theralife Clinics – set up to treat patients with radiotherapy for benign conditions in the UK.
Co-founder of Reload Clinics, which was set up to treat patients with tendonitis in a joint clinic with Geoff Scott, world-renowned consultant physiotherapist and previous head of medical services at Tottenham Hotspur FC.
Founder and CEO of RT-ABC, set up to educate radiation oncologists in the treatment of benign conditions. Founder and president of the International Organisation for Radiotherapy for Benign Conditions.
Medical Director of XStrahl Limited - manufacturer of radiotherapy machines.
Co-wrote the UK Royal College of Radiologists guidelines for benign conditions.
Responsible for the English translation of the German benign radiotherapy guidelines 2022.
Co-authored the first American case series of radiotherapy for osteoarthritis (2025).
For more information on Dr Shaffer’s clinical services see:
https://theralifeclinics.co.uk - for radiotherapy for benign conditions in Manchester
https://reloadclinics.com - For tendinopathy, bursitis, fasciitis.
https://dupuytrensuk.com- For Dupuytren’s, Ledderhose disease.
https://jointpainpractice.co.uk - for osteoarthritis.
“Evidence-based care tailored to each patient — taking the time to explain options and shared decisions.”
— Dr Richard Shaffer