Achilles tendinitis is one of the most common overuse injuries that athletes face. Up to 24% of physically active adults will experience pain in this area where the knee and ankle joints cross.
If you’re among those experiencing degenerative or inflammatory pain in your Achilles tendon, long-term relief isn’t a want – it’s a need. Luckily, getting therapy that involves a shockwave for Achilles tendinitis provides non-invasive treatment and pain reduction.
Read on to learn the ins and outs of physiotherapy for tendinitis patients!
What Is Shockwave Therapy for Achilles Tendinitis Pain Relief?
Therapy involving a shockwave for Achilles tendinitis is also called Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).
A technician holds a device that delivers shockwaves up to the Achilles tendon that has been causing you pain. When they switch it on, a high-energy soundwave permeates the heel and increases blood flow to the affected area.
This stimulates your body’s natural healing systems. It’s a natural and non-invasive way to cope with Achilles tendon pain and stop the aching and stiffness there.
The Role of Sound Waves
The device that generates the sound waves that power the shockwave therapy is called an “ESWT machine.”
It’s a handheld machine that a health professional applies directly to the parts of the heel that are causing you pain. This makes it a precise and effective way to contend with localized pain and stiffness.
Before applying the device, experts will apply a gel to your heel. This gel makes the shockwaves move through the skin more effectively via greater vibrations.
The acoustic sound waves, which serve to facilitate shockwave therapy, move through the layers of the skin and permeate the injured tendon. This creates micro-injuries on the affected tissue.
Healing Responses
While the term “micro-injuries” may sound scary, they’re not painful. These tiny injuries only serve to trigger healing responses and:
- Improve circulation in the Achilles tendon
- Contribute to the body forming more blood vessels
- Stimulate collagen production
The better circulation stimulates healing by:
- Getting essential nutrients to the heel
- Moving oxygen more quickly through the body and to the affected area
- Encouraging blood flow to the injured and damaged muscles in the Achilles tendon
- Causing the growth of new cell tissue in the affected area
It’s a 100% natural way to get the body to heal itself over time.
Multiple Sessions
A shockwave therapy session takes no more than 10 minutes. This makes it easy to schedule even for busy people going about their day.
ESWT is effective for patients who have between three and six sessions. Pain relief doesn’t come all at once. It takes time, and the relief will completely depend on the individual’s response to the treatments.
Gaps of one to two weeks between sessions are standard.
Tendinitis Pain Relief
Despite this pain relief process, some people still understandably wonder how effective shockwave therapy is. Luckily, research published in the National Library of Medicine studied the impacts of ESWT at length. They found that:
- 47.2% of patients had less pain after two months
- 73.2% of patients had less pain after six to twelve months
- 76% of patients had less pain at a long-term follow-up appointment 13-24 months after the treatment
- Clinical outcomes after ESWT improved continuously after five years
These findings specifically looked at those who were getting ESWT for Achilles tendinopathy.
Other studies also show higher success rates for those with plantar fasciitis. The success rate in these cases can get up to 90%. Those with multiple heel pain conditions may benefit even more from shockwave therapy than other people with more limited conditions.
It’s clear that shockwave therapy has favorable results in many cases. Three in four patients will still experience long-term relief between one and two years after the therapy. The study also found high levels of patient satisfaction with these results.
The Two Types of Shockwave Tendinitis Therapy
There are two types of shockwave therapies used for chronic heel pain. The first, radial shockwave therapy, is a broader treatment.
Instead of being extremely localized to a single area, it treats broad superficial areas of pain. It’s commonly used for:
- Broader areas of inflammation
- Superficial pain that doesn’t go into bones and joints
- Those who don’t need concentrated efforts on a single muscle or joint
Most people suffering from Achilles tendinitis require focused shockwave therapy (FSWT) instead. FSWT:
- Focuses on a single exact point on the tissue
- Works for treated deep tendon injuries
- Can target a very small, precise muscle or muscle group
Regardless of your needs, ESWT can help you give your healing processes a boost.
The Benefits of Shockwave for Achilles Tendinitis Therapy
Non-invasive treatment is one of the biggest benefits of shockwave tendinitis pain relief.
Recovery is completely natural and there’s no need for painful treatments. Because of this, people don’t need to take time off work or stop enjoying the daily activities they love.
ESWT also serves as an alternative to significantly more invasive treatments like:
- Medication and the side effects that come with it
- Steroid injections that require more monitoring
- Surgery that has long recovery times
Shockwave therapy also can work in conjunction with other rehabilitative treatments. This includes things like physical therapy and at-home stretching. All of these activities work together for a long-lasting holistic treatment option.
Some benefits also include:
- Long-term relief
- Enhanced pain relief
- Quicker recovery times
- Increased mobility and strength in the legs and ankles
- Functional improvements that make walking and running easier
Whether you’re an athlete or someone who enjoys day-to-day exercise, you’re more likely to see improvements by combining multiple non-invasive treatment strategies. Shockwave therapy means a more comprehensive approach to pain relief.
Relieve Chronic Heel Pain With Tendinitis Therapy ASAP
Now that you know the ins and outs of shockwave for Achilles tendinitis therapy, it’s time to begin nipping chronic heel pain in the bud.
At Midlands Shockwave & Physiotherapy Clinic, we’re committed to helping Sutton Coldfield in Birmingham residents live life to the fullest with minimal pain.
Our team offers innovative services with the latest shockwave therapy technologies, so schedule an appointment to soothe the musculoskeletal pain that has been holding you back!