Achilles tendonitis is perhaps the most common overuse injury in sports medicine. It’s a stubborn injury because while tendons don’t get as much blood supply as muscles, the Achilles is an especially large tendon, requiring even more blood.

Conservative treatments include:

  • Heel lifts
  • Arch supports
  • Stretching exercises
  • Anti-inflammatories
  • Eccentric loading

If conservative therapy is unsuccessful, surgery may be recommended.

As a drug-free, non-invasive alternative, many healthcare professionals are turning to shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis.

With a handheld shockwave therapy device, a practitioner can target the affected area with strong energy pulses over short periods of time. These pulses create micro-cavitation bubbles that expand and burst, enhancing blood flow is enhanced and stimulating cells in the body that are responsible for healing damaged tissue.

Shockwave Therapy for Achilles Tendonitis—Clinical Evidence

A long-term follow-up observational study published in The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness confirmed the efficacy of shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis.

The study included 105 patients and 127 tendons with an average age of 48. All patients were evaluated at baseline and two months after the final shockwave therapy session. All patients were also evaluated between six and 12 months following treatment, and 121 tendons were evaluated between 13 and 24 months after treatment.

Researchers concluded that “the results obtained in our experience are encouraging in the light of the long-lasting improvement of the pain symptomatology reached without collateral effects.”

A literature review published in the International Journal of Surgery examined the published data on shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis. Researchers concluded that “randomized placebo-controlled trials have confirmed excellent results with regards to function and pain.” Moreover, shockwave therapy “seems to be the most effective option in chronic Achilles tendinopathy.”

The Best Shockwave Therapy Devices on the Market

Healthcare professionals use shockwave therapy for Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, myofascial pain, and a variety of other musculoskeletal disorders. And if you want to leverage this technology for your practice, Shockwave Canada can help. Not only are we the exclusive distributor of Storz shockwave therapy machines, the best devices on the market, but we also offer 24/7 support from experts with decades of experience.

Call (866) 963-5373 or visit our website to request a free consultation.