If you’ve been dealing with persistent foot, heel, or leg pain that isn’t settling with rest alone, shockwave therapy may be a treatment option worth considering.

Also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), this non-surgical treatment is widely used in musculoskeletal care to help manage chronic tendon and soft tissue conditions.

At Foot Foundation, shockwave therapy is used as part of a comprehensive rehabilitation approach to help patients move more comfortably and return to activity.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that delivers controlled acoustic pressure waves into injured or irritated tissues.

Despite the name, it is not an electric shock.

Instead, the device generates mechanical sound waves that travel into the affected area to stimulate a biological response within the tissue.

Key features:

• Non-surgical

• No injections required

• Delivered in clinic

• Typically quick treatment sessions

• Minimal downtime

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

While research is ongoing, shockwave therapy is thought to help through several mechanisms:

✅ Stimulates local blood flow
✅ Promotes tissue remodelling
✅ May help break down chronic degenerative tissue
✅ Encourages cellular healing responses
✅ Modulates pain signalling

In chronic tendon problems — where healing can “stall” — shockwave therapy aims to restart or stimulate the body’s natural repair processes.

What Lower Limb Conditions May Benefit?

Shockwave therapy is most commonly used for chronic tendon and soft tissue conditions, particularly when symptoms have persisted for several months.

Foot and Heel Conditions

• Plantar fasciitis

• Chronic heel pain

• Achilles tendinopathy

• Insertional Achilles pain

• Heel spur–related pain

• Tibialis posterior irritation

Lower Leg Conditions

• Medial tibial stress syndrome (shin splints)

• Peroneal tendinopathy

• Chronic calf tightness

• Muscle trigger points

Around the Knee and Hip

• Patellar tendinopathy

• Proximal hamstring tendinopathy

• Gluteal tendinopathy

At Foot Foundation, shockwave therapy is typically used alongside strengthening, load management, footwear advice, and orthotic therapy where appropriate.

What Are the Potential Benefits?

Many patients choose shockwave therapy because it is:

• Non-invasive

• Quick to administer

• Suitable for chronic conditions

• No anaesthetic required in most cases

• Minimal recovery time

Patients commonly report:

• Reduced pain levels

• Improved load tolerance

• Better function during activity

• Gradual improvement over several weeks

It is important to note that improvements often occur progressively, not instantly.

What Does Treatment Feel Like?

During shockwave therapy:

• A handheld device is placed over the painful area

• Pulses are delivered for several minutes

• You may feel a firm tapping or pulsing sensation

• Some areas can be temporarily uncomfortable but are usually well tolerated

Treatment intensity is adjusted to your comfort level.

Most sessions take 5–10 minutes per area.

How Many Sessions Are Usually Needed?

Typical treatment courses involve:

• 3–6 sessions

• Usually spaced about one week apart

However, the exact plan depends on:

• Your diagnosis

• How long symptoms have been present

• Tissue irritability

• Your response to treatment

Your clinician will tailor this to your situation.

Is There Good Evidence for Shockwave Therapy?

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy has been extensively studied, particularly for chronic tendon conditions.

Research shows moderate to strong evidence supporting its use in conditions such as:

• Plantar fasciitis

• Achilles tendinopathy

• Some patellar tendon conditions

• Certain cases of gluteal tendinopathy

Outcomes tend to be best when shockwave is combined with an active rehabilitation programme, rather than used in isolation.

Is Shockwave Therapy Safe?

When delivered by trained clinicians, shockwave therapy has a strong safety profile.

You may experience:

• Temporary redness

• Mild soreness after treatment

• Short-term tissue sensitivity

It is generally not recommended in certain situations, such as:

• Over areas of known malignancy

• Over open growth plates in children

• Over acute fractures

• In some bleeding disorders

A proper clinical assessment is always required first.

Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?

If you’ve had persistent lower limb pain that hasn’t improved with rest, stretching, or basic treatment, shockwave therapy may be worth considering — particularly for chronic tendon conditions.

At Foot Foundation, our clinicians assess:

• The true source of your pain

• Load and activity factors

• Biomechanics and contributing drivers

• Whether shockwave therapy is appropriate for your case

Book a Consultation

If you’d like to explore whether shockwave therapy could help your condition, our team at Foot Foundation is here to help.

👉 Book an appointment today
🌐 www.footfoundation.co.nz
📞 (09) 922 6830 | (07) 949 7607
📧 reception@footfoundation.co.nz