Achilles Tendonitis
How Shockwave Therapy Treatment can help treat Achilles Tendonitis and how we can help you.
Book Your Shockwave Consultation:
Full Medical History • Examination • Diagnosis • First Treatment
Appointments available at our Rayleigh & Wickford Clinics.
Achilles Tendonitis
Achilles Tendonitis is a common cause of posterior heel pain in both sedentary and active people. It is often a chronic, frustrating injury which effects active adults aged between 30 and 60 years of age, particularly those who are engaged in regular sporting activity such as running.
It is characterised by pain, swelling, morning stiffness and tenderness on the attachment of the Achilles tendon onto the heel bone, known as the calcaneum (green circle on the image below).
The other common type of Achilles tendon injury is called mid-portion Achilles tendinopathy. This injury is located above the heel bone towards the muscle belly (blue circle on the image below). Both mid-portion and insertional Achilles tendinopathy can be a very painful and debilitating condition which can be difficult to treat.
What causes Achilles Tendonitis?
Achilles Tendonitis is associated with injury and/or overuse. However, while the exact cause is often unknown, there are certain risk factors such as impact based sports and activities such as running, tennis, volleyball and football.
This condition is particularly common in runners who have:
- increased their distance too quickly
- started running too often
- recently started to incorporate hill training
- changed their running shoes
Some individuals are genetically prone to tendon issues particularly those with collagen (connective) tissue conditions. Those who are overweight, diabetic or have high cholesterol are also more likely to get insertional achilles tendonitis and often these patients take longer to fully recover. Advancing age has also been shown to be a known risk factor.
Shockwave Therapy treatment for Achilles Tendonitis?
It has been shown that shockwave is an effective option for treating chronic Achilles Tendonitis, particularly when other nonoperative treatments have failed such as physiotherapy, rest, orthotics and medication (NSAIDs) (Al-Abbad and Simon, 2013, Mani-Babu et al., 2015).
The combination of shockwave therapy and rehabilitation exercises has improved our clinical outcomes for patients suffering with this condition.
The use of shockwave therapy for Achilles Tendonitis is well supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). NICE provides national guidance and advice to improve health and social care. It provides evidence based recommendations to guide best practice within healthcare.
What are Shockwaves?
Shockwaves are high-energy sound waves which are transmitted to the affected area to accelerate healing.
The treatment increases blood flow, decreases localised pain and stimulates cell regeneration – this encourages the body to heal itself. Shockwaves also break down injured tissue and calcifications.
How we can help you
The Shockwave Consultation
The key to the great results we achieve with the thousands of patients we treat across our four clinics is getting the diagnosis right.
On your first consultation, one of our qualified doctors of Chiropractic will take your full medical history and will take you through a physical examination to pinpoint the cause of your symptoms. During the physical examination, we will assess your condition in order to pinpoint the cause of your pain.
Following the consultation the recommended treatment will be explained to you and we can begin by undertaking your first treatment.
Shockwave Treatment Fees
Shockwave Consultation – £70.00
Includes: • Medical History • Examination • Diagnosis • First treatment
Subsequent Treatments – £70.00
Additional treatments are only available if you have previously completed a treatment package.
