Shockwave Therapy in Oakville: Heal Stubborn Leg and Tendon Pain at Physical Edge Physiotherapy

Sasha Guay
Nov 4
3 min read

Shockwave therapy has been gaining attention as a non-invasive treatment for various musculoskeletal conditions, from chronic tendon pain to sports injuries. In this blog, we have summarized a recent research article that explores the effectiveness of shockwave therapy, breaking down its main findings and what they mean for our patients.

Discover how shockwave therapy can help relieve chronic heel, hip, and leg pain. Learn how it works, what it treats, and why it’s an effective non-invasive treatment for tendon pain and sports injuries.

What Is Shockwave Therapy?

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive physiotherapy treatment that uses sound waves to promote tissue repair, boost blood flow, and reduce pain.

At Physical Edge Physiotherapy in Oakville, we use shockwave therapy to help patients recover from chronic injuries that haven’t improved with traditional care like rest, stretching, or strengthening exercises.

How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?

Shockwave therapy delivers targeted energy pulses through the skin to the injured tissue. These pulses:

Stimulate the body’s natural healing process
Break down scar tissue and calcium deposits
Improve blood circulation and nutrient delivery
Calm irritated nerves to reduce pain

Each session requires no medication or surgery and has minimal downtime. You can usually return to your normal activities right after treatment.

What Does the Research Say?

A large review published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (Korakakis et al., 2018) found that shockwave therapy can effectively reduce pain and improve function for several common lower-limb conditions.

Achilles Tendon Pain

Improved pain and mobility, especially when combined with strengthening exercises.
Outperformed a “wait-and-see” approach.
More effective than exercises alone for heel insertion pain.

Hip Pain (GTPS)

Provided better short- and long-term results than standard physiotherapy or rest.
Outperformed cortisone injections over time — longer-lasting relief with no medication.

Knee and Hamstring Pain

Helped improve pain and function for jumper’s knee and hamstring tendinopathy, particularly when used with physiotherapy exercises.

Shin Splints

Early studies show it may help reduce pain and speed recovery, especially in runners

Conditions We Treat with Shockwave Therapy

At Physical Edge Physiotherapy, our physiotherapists use shockwave therapy to treat many stubborn lower-limb and tendon injuries, including:

Achilles tendinopathy – pain and stiffness at the back of the heel
Patellar tendinopathy (“jumper’s knee”) – pain below the kneecap
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome (GTPS) – outer hip or glute pain
Medial tibial stress syndrome (“shin splints”) – inner shin pain
Proximal hamstring tendinopathy – pain near the sit bone or upper hamstring

If you’ve been struggling with chronic tendon pain or sports injuries that won’t heal, shockwave therapy may help.

What to Expect During a Shockwave Therapy Session

Your physiotherapist will use a handheld device to deliver about 2000 pulses to the treatment area. You’ll feel a tapping sensation — uncomfortable but tolerable.

After treatment, it’s normal to feel some temporary soreness, similar to a deep tissue massage. This typically resolves within 24–48 hours.

Most patients benefit from three to five weekly sessions, depending on the severity and location of the injury.

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Non-surgical and medication-free
Stimulates natural healing and tissue repair
Reduces chronic pain and inflammation
Improves mobility and function
Quick treatment with little downtime

Why Choose Physical Edge Physiotherapy in Oakville?

At Physical Edge Physiotherapy, we take a personalized and evidence-based approach to your recovery. Our experienced physiotherapists combine hands-on care, targeted exercise therapy, and advanced treatments like shockwave therapy to help you:

Recover faster
Prevent future injury
Get back to doing what you love

Whether you’re an athlete, an active individual, or someone living with persistent tendon pain, our team is here to help.

Book Your Shockwave Therapy Appointment

Ready to move past your pain and get back to full function?

Book your physiotherapy assessment at Physical Edge Physiotherapy in Oakville today!

We’ll assess your condition, discuss if shockwave is right for you, and create a plan that gets you back to feeling your best.

📞 Call us at 905-844-8425

💻 Click below to book online

Book Now!