Tendon Pain & Rehabilitation

Understanding persistent tendon pain and how rehabilitation can help

Tendon pain can be difficult to manage because both activity and recovery need to be carefully balanced. Tendons generally respond well to an appropriate amount of load, introduced at a level they can tolerate and progressed over time. Toby will develop a staged plan to help you remain active while gradually improving the tendon’s strength and capacity.

Tendons commonly treated

Achilles tendon - heel and lower calf pain, common in runners

Patellar tendon - pain just below the kneecap, often linked to jumping or heavy training

Gluteal tendon - pain on the outer hip, often worse lying on that side or climbing stairs

Hamstring tendon - deep pain at the sit bone, often worse sitting for long periods

Adductor tendon (groin) - nagging groin pain common in footballers, often worse with sprinting, twisting or kicking

Tennis elbow - outer elbow pain from racket sports, increasingly common with the rise of Padel

How treatment works

Toby will assess the tendon’s current irritability and capacity, as this helps determine the most appropriate starting point. Some symptoms require an initial reduction in load, while others are ready for more progressive strengthening. From there you’ll get a staged plan that builds load gradually, with clear check-ins so you know it’s moving in the right direction.

When shockwave therapy helps

For tendon pain that’s been going on for a while and hasn’t settled with loading alone, shockwave therapy may help reduce pain and improve function when used alongside rehabilitation.