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ACHILLES TENDONITIS/TENDINOPATHY & SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
 

  • Regrow blood vessels in the achilles tendonitis tissue [2]

  • Stimulate new collagen fibers in your achilles tendon [1]

  • Effectively treat your achilles tendinopathy [3,4,5,6]

  • Get you back in the game with extracorporeal shockwave therapy

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Your achilles tendons run from your calf muscles to your heel bone. You rely on them whenever you lift a heel of the ground:  So, when walking, running, jumping or pivoting, your achilles tendons are vital. So, how does achilles tendinopathy or achilles tendonitis and extracorporeal shockwave therapy relate?

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HOW DOES ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY OCCUR?

The achilles tendon can rupture but it can also just get micro tears from overuse or not warming up your muscles before demanding activities like jogging or walking up hill. Unfortunately, the achilles tendon has a poor blood supply and this makes the tendon a slow and inefficient healer.  When it heals it lays down tissue that is less organized than the original tendon.  This tissue is brittle and it further decreases blood flow to the achilles tendon.

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All of this leads to stiffness, pain, inflammation and more deterioration of the tendon.

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  • Aching in the back of the leg

  • Extreme pain after running or climbing

  • Morning stiffness

  • Sore feet

  • Decreased strength

  • Swelling of the ankle

SYMPTOMS OF ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY OR ACHILLES TENDONITIS 

ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY OR ACHILLES TENDINITIS ARE COMMON WHEN…

  • Hikers go up hills

  • Baseball players round the bases

  • Runners push off their feet

  • Basketball players rebound

  • Volleyball players spike

HOW PIEZOWAVE ESWT HELPS ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY

The Piezowave 2 delivers low-energy focused shockwaves or acoustic waves into the damaged achilles tendon.  This is a mechanical type force which causes the tissue to ripple.  Harder or brittle tissue like scar tissue will break and then blood is allowed to come in the area and, over a course of weeks, healing takes place.  We will work on the tissues above and below your achilles tendon also.  Getting greater flexibility in the entire calf/tendon complex is key to a long-term recovery.   

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You may feel results within the first few visits. However, after an average course of approximately 6-9 visits, your body and achilles tendon will begin a course of healing on a cellular level.

ESWT/SHOCKWAVE THERAPY, ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY AND ACHILLES TENDONITIS RESEARCH

There are some quite favorable results when studying the effects of ESWT on achilles tendinopathy [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]. Even studies comparing widely accepted physiotherapy treatments for achilles tendinopathy and achilles tendonitis versus ESWT showed better results when treating chronic recalcitrant achilles tendinopathy with extracorporeal shockwave therapy [3]. Also, realize the results mirror the success with patellar tendinopathy of the knee.  We could post a lot more research had we included these studies and the studies of dissected tissues showing regrowth of collagen and blood vessels.  

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The research, and the experiences in our office, should give you hope for recovery.

PREVENTING ACHILLES TENDON INJURIES

  • Stay hydrated when doing sports

  • Warm up prior to activity

  • Support your feet with good shoes

  • Ease up on uphill running

  • Up your exercise intensity gradually

  • Listen to your body and stop if you feel pain

© 2025 by Popowich Chiropractic & Acupuncture

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