What are the treatment options for tendinopathy?

Tendinopathy is tendon pain and reduced tolerance to load, often around the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee or ankle. It can follow a sudden change in training, repeated work demands or a tendon that has had too little recovery. The right plan depends on the tendon involved, symptom irritability, strength and daily demands.

Complete rest can reduce activity tolerance, while pushing through sharp or escalating pain can keep the tendon overloaded. A clinician helps find a manageable starting load and tracks how the tendon responds later that day and the next morning.

Physiotherapy may combine education, movement changes and a graded strengthening programme. Strength training rehabilitation often progresses from controlled holds or slow movements to heavier, faster and task-specific loading. The aim is to improve the tendon’s ability to handle work, walking or sport, not simply to mask pain.

Shockwave therapy may be offered for selected persistent tendinopathies as part of a wider rehabilitation plan. PRP injection may also be discussed after diagnosis and assessment of alternatives; ask what evidence and expected recovery apply to your particular tendon. These options do not replace load management.

Arrange an assessment when tendon pain persists, reduces strength or changes how you use a limb. Seek urgent care for a sudden snap, immediate loss of power, a visible change in the tendon’s shape, major swelling or inability to bear weight. Those signs may indicate a tendon tear rather than uncomplicated tendinopathy.

Ask which tendon is affected, what load is safe now, and how progress will be measured. Ask whether shockwave therapy or PRP injection fits your diagnosis, what rehabilitation follows, and what symptoms should prompt reassessment.