Still Putting up with Tendon Pain? Meet Our New Shockwave Therapy Machine
You know the kind of tendon pain we mean.
The heel pain that makes the first few steps out of bed feel like walking on a drawing pin.
The Achilles pain that settles just enough for you to think you are back on track then flares again after a run, gym session or long day on your feet.
The elbow that complains every time you lift the kettle, grip a golf club or pick up your child.
You may have rested. Stretched. Changed your shoes. Taken pain relief. Tried to “push through it.” Maybe you have even had treatment before but the problem keeps coming back.
If that sounds familiar, shockwave therapy could be worth exploring.
Physiotherapy Works has introduced the Chattanooga Intelect RPW 2; an advanced radial pressure wave therapy machine that gives us another way to help people with stubborn tendon, heel and muscle pain.
It is not magic. But it can be a turning point.
Let’s be honest: there is no machine that fixes every ache, injury or long-standing pain overnight.
Shockwave therapy is not a replacement for a proper assessment, a sensible rehabilitation plan or the right exercises. But for the right person, at the right stage of recovery, it can help shift a problem that has been slow to settle.
Think of it as a useful nudge for a painful area that has become stuck.
The treatment delivers a series of controlled acoustic pressure waves through the skin into the painful tissue. You will feel a fast, tapping sensation over the area being treated. It is not an injection; there are no needles and there is no recovery time needed afterwards.
The aim is to reduce pain and help you move and load the area more comfortably so you can get on with the rehabilitation that creates lasting improvement.
Get started on your recovering by booking an appointment now
What can shockwave therapy help with?
Shockwave is often considered for persistent problems that have not improved as expected with rest, exercise or time alone.
It may be suitable for:
· Plantar fasciitis / heel pain — especially painful first steps in the morning or after sitting.
· Achilles tendon pain — pain or stiffness at the back of the ankle, often worse with running, hills or the first steps of the day.
· Tennis elbow — pain on the outside of the elbow when gripping, lifting or using a mouse, tools or racquet.
· Golferʼs elbow — pain on the inside of the elbow.
· Patellar tendon pain — pain just below the kneecap, often associated with jumping, squatting or running.
· Hip tendon pain — pain around the outside of the hip, often aggravated by walking, stairs, lying on that side or getting up from a chair.
· Tight, sensitive muscle areas — where myofascial trigger points may be contributing to pain or restriction.
Shockwave and radial pressure-wave therapy are included in treatment recommendations for a number of tendinopathies and plantar heel pain but they work best as part of a full rehabilitation programme rather than as a quick standalone fix.
Let’s get started – book an appointment today
What is it like?
Most people describe shockwave as a firm, repetitive tapping sensation.
Some areas can be tender at the beginning, particularly if the tendon or heel has been sore for a long time. The good news is that the treatment is fully adjustable. Your physio can start gently, build gradually and tailor the settings to your comfort and the area being treated.
A treatment session is usually short. You can walk out afterwards, drive home, go back to work and continue with your day.
You may feel some mild soreness in the area afterwards, similar to how a worked muscle or irritated tendon can feel. This is usually temporary. We will give you clear guidance on what training, walking, work or sport is sensible after your appointment.
Why does the machine matter?
The new Chattanooga Intelect RPW 2 enables us to make treatment more precise and comfortable.
Rather than using one standard setting for everyone, we can adjust the treatment based on:
· The area being treated.
· How sensitive the tissue is.
· Whether your goal is walking comfortably, returning to the gym, getting back to running or playing sport.
· How your symptoms respond from one appointment to the next.
It uses radial pressure wave technology to deliver controlled acoustic pulses to the treatment area. It is one of the ways we can help manage persistent musculoskeletal pain alongside hands-on physiotherapy, progressive exercise and advice you can actually use in daily life.
The important bit: what happens after shockwave?
This is where the real progress happens.
If your tendon has been sore for months, it usually needs more than temporary pain relief. It needs to become stronger and more confident with the activities that matter to you.
That might mean building from:
· Walking without limping.
· Getting downstairs without dreading the first few steps.
· Completing a gym session without a flare-up.
· Returning to a 5 km run.
· Playing golf, tennis, GAA, football or padel without planning your week around pain.
· Keeping up with work, family life and the things you enjoy.
Your physio will combine shockwave with a plan that suits your starting point. No generic sheet of exercises, no being told to “just rest” and no expectation that you should work through severe pain.
How many sessions will I need?
There is no single answer, because the right treatment depends on the diagnosis, how long the pain has been present, your activity level and how the area responds.
Many people have a course of around three to five treatments, commonly spaced one to two weeks apart. We will explain what is realistic in your case and review your progress as we go.
Is shockwave right for you?
Shockwave is not suitable for every injury or every person. It should always follow a proper physiotherapy assessment.
We will screen for factors that could make treatment unsuitable, including pregnancy, certain bleeding or clotting conditions, cancer in or near the treatment area, active infection, some implanted devices and recent steroid injection around the area being treated.
If shockwave is not the best option for you, we will tell you. You will still leave with a clear explanation of what is likely driving your pain and what to do next.
You do not have to keep “putting up with it”
Persistent pain has a way of shrinking your world.
You stop running “for now.” You avoid long walks. You change how you get out of bed. You decline the tennis game. You start choosing shoes, routes and activities around what will hurt least.
It does not have to stay that way.
If heel pain, tendon pain or a long-running muscle problem is keeping you from the activities you value, book an assessment at Physiotherapy Works. We will assess the problem properly, discuss whether shockwave therapy is suitable and build a practical plan to help you move forward.
Book your shockwave therapy assessment or call us on 045-866075 at Physiotherapy Works.
References
· Recommendations for the use of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in musculoskeletal disorders. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2025.
· International Society for Medical Shockwave Treatment. ESWT Guidelines, 2024.
· Chattanooga. Intelect RPW 2 Radial Pressure Wave Therapy.