Tendon Problems & Shockwave Therapy
When Tendons Need More Than Rest.
Tendons are the unsung heroes of the musculoskeletal system — they connect muscle to bone and bear enormous loads with every movement. When they become overloaded or injured, they can be incredibly frustrating to treat. If you’ve been told to “just rest it” and found that hasn’t worked, shockwave therapy could be the answer.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) uses high-energy acoustic waves delivered to the affected tissue through the skin. Despite the name, there’s no electrical shock involved — most patients describe the sensation as a firm tapping or pressure. It’s a safe, clinically proven, non-invasive treatment with a strong evidence base for a range of tendon conditions.
Conditions We Treat With Shockwave
Achilles tendinopathy — both mid-portion and insertional
Plantar fasciitis / heel pain
Gluteal tendinopathy (lateral hip pain)
Lateral epicondylalgia (tennis elbow)
Rotator cuff tendinopathy
Hamstring tendinopathy (proximal/high hamstring)
How Does It Work?
Shockwave therapy works by stimulating the body’s natural repair mechanisms. The acoustic waves increase blood flow, stimulate collagen production, and break down calcific deposits within the tendon. It essentially “wakes up” a stubborn tendon that has stalled in its healing process.
A typical course of treatment involves 3–6 sessions, delivered at weekly intervals. Most patients begin to notice improvement after the 3rd session, with continued progress in the weeks following the final treatment.
Is It Right For You?
Shockwave therapy works best when paired with a structured loading programme — tendons need progressive exercise to remodel properly. At Harbour, we never use shockwave in isolation. Every patient receives a personalised rehabilitation plan alongside their treatment sessions, delivered by our expert team.
Shockwave is generally not suitable for patients who are pregnant, have a bleeding disorder, or are taking anticoagulant medication. We’ll always carry out a full assessment before recommending treatment.
Think shockwave might be the answer? Get in touch or book online — we’d love to help you finally get on top of that stubborn tendon problem.
Ready To Book?
If would like to book an appointment you can easily book online but if you have any questions then please get in touch and we'll help guide you to the best treatment for your needs.
Insurance Payments
We accept the following insurance providers for treatment payments, if your provider isn't listed there may still be something we can do however so please feel free to give us a call to discuss.
Get In Touch
If you'd like to discuss anything with us prior to booking please get in touch with us via one of the following methods or send us a message using the contact form and someone will get back to you asap!
Call us on 01392 757475
Email us at info@harbourchiropractic.co.uk
Visit us at 22 High Street, Topsham, Exeter, EX3 OED
Our team are trained & recognised by the following organisations:
