Achilles tendinopathy is a condition that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and weakness to the Achilles tendon, which attaches your calf muscle to your heel bone. It is thought to be caused by repeated small injuries to the tendon that do not heal and build up over time.

Plantar fasciitis is inflammation or pain of the plantar fascia. This is a thick fibrous band of tissue at the bottom of your foot that lies between your toes and your heel. Repeated small injuries to the plantar fascia are believed to be the cause of the inflammation. People experience pain on their heel/s when they stand up.

Shockwave therapy can be used on many parts of the body but at SO Podiatry we mainly focus on Achilles Tendinopathy and Plantar Fasciitis.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a procedure where shockwaves are passed through the skin to the injured part of the foot, using a special device. Extracorporeal means outside of the body. The shockwaves are mechanical and not electric; they are audible, low energy sound waves, which work by increasing blood flow to the injured area. This accelerates the body’s healing process.

You will usually require a course of three treatments, one week apart.

ESWT is offered to patients with Achilles Tendinopathy and Plantar Fasciitis, who have not responded adequately to conservative treatments, such as physiotherapy, rest, ice therapy and painkillers. It is a minimally invasive treatment that is carried in the clinic which allows you to can go home the same day. As part of a treatment plan, ESWT can offer relief from pain and other symptoms.

You will experience some mild pain or discomfort during the treatment, but you should be able to tolerate this. Following the treatment, you may experience redness, bruising, swelling and numbness to the area. These side effects should resolve within a week, before your next treatment. Every patient will be monitored before and after the treatments to discover how successful the outcome is.

• Are pregnant
• Are taking antiplatelets (for example, aspirin or clopidigrel) or anticoagulants (such as warfarin or rivaroxaban)
• Have a blood clotting disorder
• Are under the age of 18
• Have been diagnosed with bone cancer
• Have a cardiac pacemaker or other cardiac device
• Have an infection in your foot or a history of tendon or ligament rupture
• Have had any steroid injections in the previous 12 weeks

These will be discussed with you by your healthcare professional when the treatment is offered. SO Podiatry will discuss the benefits and risks of the procedure with you in more detail.

After the treatment you will be able to get up and walk straight away. If you do experience discomfort following the shockwave treatment you can take over the counter painkillers (such as paracetamol) but you should avoid anti-inflammatory medication (such as aspirin and ibuprofen) and ice therapy, as these can interfere with the body’s healing process. As part of the treatment plan we may also recommend specific exercises and/or orthotics to help with shock absorption or any underlying biomechanical complaint.

Please see our pricing page for costs. Please note all shockwave treatment patients need to attend for a biomechanical assessment to establish this course of treatment will suit your needs. Get in touch for further details.