Shockwave therapy may boost recovery from achilles pain, small study suggests

NCT ID NCT05702918

Completed Symptom relief Sponsor: University Hospital, Motol Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether adding low-energy shockwave therapy to a 12-week exercise program helps people with Achilles tendinopathy more than exercise alone. Forty-seven adults with pain and swelling in one Achilles tendon were randomly assigned to either exercise plus shockwave or exercise only. Researchers used ultrasound images and a pain-and-function questionnaire to track changes over 26 weeks.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy and a 12-week resistance training exercise protocol
What this could lead to: If successful, this could point toward a standard non-surgical treatment plan that improves pain and function in people with Achilles tendinopathy.
What could go wrong: This is a small, completed study with only 47 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the treatments may not work better than exercise alone.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

disease of the tendon

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACHILLES TENDINOPATHY

Contacts and locations

Locations

University Hospital Motol and 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University

Prague, Czechia

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