How does shockwave therapy treat chronic Achilles tendonitis?
Shockwave therapy sends pulses of sound energy into the irritated Achilles tendon. It is thought to stimulate the body’s healing response and reduce pain in tendons that have not improved with rest and exercise alone. It works best combined with a calf and tendon loading program.
How a course usually works
- An assessment to confirm the problem is the tendon
- Short sessions, usually about a week apart
- A tendon loading program running alongside
- Intensity adjusted to what you can tolerate
What to expect
- Treatment can be uncomfortable but is brief
- Mild soreness or redness for a day or two is common
- Changes are usually gradual over several weeks
When to get it checked
Sudden, sharp pain at the back of the ankle with a pop or trouble pushing off needs urgent medical assessment, as it can be a rupture.
At Performance Sports Therapy in Gloucester, our Focused Shockwave therapy and our physiotherapy team can help you decide on the right care.
Related: Focused vs radial shockwave for plantar fasciitis: what is the difference, shockwave for tennis elbow achilles calcific shoulder, what to avoid after shockwave therapy.