Tendon Pain & Injuries

Commonly affecting the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, Achilles tendon, hamstring and heel.

If you’re dealing with pain that:

• Hurts first thing in the morning
• Flares up during activity
• Keeps returning despite rest or exercises
• Has been labelled “just inflammation” or “wear and tear” 

…there’s a strong chance a tendon is involved.

• Detailed Assessment
• Clear Diagnosis
• Diagnostic Ultrasound (when appropriate)
• Rehabilitation & Focused Shockwave Therapy
• A personalised plan forward

Tendon pain is common, frustrating, and often slow to settle - especially when the true cause hasn’t been clearly identified. At Tenby Health we specialise in tendon-related pain and provide a complete, diagnosis-led pathway to help you understand what’s going on and what to do next.

• Diagnosis-led care, not trial-and-error
• On-site diagnostic ultrasound, performed by a fully qualified MSK sonographer
• Both focused and radial shockwave. Focused shockwave reaches deeper, stubborn tendon problems that surface level radial treatment can't, and we're one of the few clinics in Wales to offer it
• Rehabilitation-led recovery, not passive treatment alone. Movement and biomechanics assessment - using targeted exercise coaching to address strength, control, and loading factors that may have contributed to the problem and help reduce recurrence
• Local, family-run clinic, serving West Wales with evidence-based care
   

We’re the only clinic in West Wales able to combine diagnostic ultrasound,  chiropractic care, focused shockwave therapy, and rehabilitation under one roof.

Most people leave their first appointment with a much clearer understanding of what is causing their symptoms and what their next steps should be.

Tendons connect muscle to bone. They’re designed to tolerate load - but not repetitive overload, poor recovery, or altered movement patterns.

When a tendon becomes irritated or degenerative, symptoms may include:

• Localised pain at the tendon or attachment
• Stiffness after rest (especially mornings)
• Pain during or after activity
• Reduced strength or confidence in movement
   

Importantly, tendon pain is not always inflammatory, and it often doesn’t respond well to rest alone.

Many people don’t realise their symptoms fall under a tendon and tendon like conditions. 

Common examples include:

• Under-heel pain (often plantar fasciitis)
   
• Achilles pain during walking or running
   
• Tennis elbow or persistent outer elbow pain
   
• Jumper’s knee or pain below the kneecap
   
• Outer hip pain (often gluteal tendinopathy or bursitis)
   
• Shoulder tendon pain, including calcific tendinopathy
   
• Hamstring tendon pain, especially with sport or prolonged sitting
   

These problems are often slow to heal without the right combination of diagnosis, load management, and targeted treatment.

 Tendon problems commonly persist because:

• Incorrect diagnosis
• Ineffective treatment
• Treatment focused on symptoms, not cause
• Loading wasn’t progressed appropriately
• Imaging was never performed when needed
   

This is why we take a diagnosis-led approach, rather than guessing or applying one-size-fits-all treatments.

We don’t start with a treatment. We start with understanding the problem properly.

1. Accurate assessment
Your consultation includes a detailed history and physical examination to understand:

• How the pain developed 
• What aggravates or eases it
• How it affects work, sport, and daily life
   

2. Diagnostic ultrasound (when appropriate)
If indicated and desired, on-site musculoskeletal ultrasound allows us to:

• visualise the tendon directly
• identify degeneration, thickening, tears, inflammation, or calcification
• confirm whether shockwave or rehabilitation are appropriate
   

3. Targeted treatment options
Depending on your presentation, this could include:

• Focused shockwave therapy for persistent tendon pain
• Radial shockwave therapy for tight, painful muscles
• Hands-on care to address wider contributing joint or soft-tissue factors
• Rehabilitation exercise to restore tendon load tolerance and movement confidence
   

4. A clear plan forward
You’ll leave knowing:

• what’s involved
• what’s optional
• what’s most likely to help in your case

If tendon pain is limiting your movement, work, or sport, the most important first step is a proper assessment.

Book a new patient consultation (£65) and we'll assess your symptoms, confirm the diagnosis, and explain your options clearly - whether that's shockwave, rehabilitation, diagnostic ultrasound, or a combination. If shockwave is right for you, we will talk you through the package options at that appointment.  

View our pricing and packages: tenbyhealth.co.uk/pricing-and-cancellations

Focused Shockwave Therapy | Achilles tendinopathy  |  Plantar Fasciitis   | Tendon Ultrasound Scans | Rehabilitation