Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Always Active
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.

No cookies to display.

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

No cookies to display.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

No cookies to display.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

No cookies to display.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

No cookies to display.

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

No cookies to display.

Skip links

Shockwave Therapy for Tendonitis

Share

Shockwave therapy for tendonitis is a common form of therapy. There are many areas in the body that this can be applied and shockwave therapy for tendonitis remains a viable management protocol for persistent or difficult to manage tendonitis. Achilles tendonitis is a common form of tendinopathy so this article uses it to describe shockwave therapies uses.

What is Achilles Tendinopathy?

This condition is a relatively common injury to athletes, recreational exercise enthusiasts, and the general population. It is, however, more common in those who participate in sports such as football, basketball, and athletics (long and short distance running), which require excessive loading through the achilles in the form of running or jumping.

The cause of achilles tendinopathy still remains unclear with researchers carrying out further testing of the exact cause and effect. It has been suggested that the tendon undergoes microdamage at a cellular level, whereby the body’s attempt to heal itself under repetitive strain puts the Achilles tendon into a vicious chronic loop.

Possible causes of Achilles Tendinopathy:

There has been a number of factors that contribute to this condition such as:

  • Muscle imbalances in the lower leg
  • Poor calf endurance
  • Poor stability in the core, knee, and hip affecting normal biomechanics.
  • Stiffness felt in the foot
  • Change in footwear
  • Increasing training load/distance running too quickly

The most common symptoms faced when being affected by achilles tendinopathy are:

  • Pain at the back of the ankle occasionally can be stiff
  • Worse pain felt in the morning and inactive periods
  • Pain at the start and end of an exercise, not during exercise
  • Swelling is common in the achilles tendon – tender to touch
  • If sudden pain and an audible pop is heard, seek medical advice.

Shockwave therapy for tendonitis?

An article in 2007 studied 75 patients who had Achilles tendinopathy. They found that no treatment (a wait and see policy) had zero effect on the symptoms, whereas eccentric loading and shockwave therapy showed comparable results. They suggested that the combination of shockwave and eccentric loading yielded significant results in the symptoms that patients felt, thus making it an ideal conservative option.

A more recent paper carried out a randomised, double-blind, placebo trial. The 48 patients were assigned to either receive shockwave therapy or a sham alternative (fake). After 8 and 12 weeks, better results were seen in the intervention group (shockwave therapy), therefore supporting the use of shockwave therapy in those with chronic achilles tendinopathy.

Recent improvements in technology have meant that shockwave therapy is an affordable option for the majority of patients, allowing an alternative option to surgery.

Perfect Balance Clinic can help you with Achilles tendinopathy, We offer shockwave therapy which is carried out by senior therapists along with rehabilitation programs carried out by Sports therapists and Physiotherapists. If it has been suggested or you think that you have achilles tendinopathy please contact the clinic by filling out our form below, or simply call and we can help speed up your recovery!

Have you tried Orthotics for tendonitis?

Why Orthotics Can Help With Achilles Tendonosis / Achilles Tendonitis / Cure Foot Pain

For more information about shockwave therapy for tendonitis

This article was written by our team of specialist therapists at Perfect Balance Clinic. If you would like more specific advice about how our team can help you with this condition or symptoms you may be having, please complete the contact form below and one of the team will get back to you shortly.

    Here are some of our E-Books to help you

    Return to top of page