16/12/2025
Keeping the spring in your tendons:
Understanding tendinopathy and optimising recovery
Tendinopathy is a common condition that affects the tendons—the strong, spring‑like tissues that help us run, jump, lift, and move with power. Healthy tendons act like elastic bands, storing and releasing energy with every step. But when they’re exposed to ongoing overstress, compression, deconditioning, hormonal changes, certain medications, or metabolic factors like high cholesterol or diabetes, they can become painful over time and lose some of their elastic properties.
These changes often develop slowly, like a pot gently simmering on the stove. They may be experienced as stiffness, soreness, sensitivity or weakness before pain and disability set in. Many people ignore the early signs but getting help early makes recovery faster and more effective.
Tendinopathy can occur in many areas of the body. Some of the more common are the Achilles Tendon, Gluteal Tendons in the buttock, Patella Tendon at the knee, Rotator Cuff at the Shoulder and elbow tendons.
A holistic, biopsychosocial approach is now considered best practice in the management of tendinopathy. That means we look not only at the tendon itself, but also the mechanical and lifestyle factors, general health, stress levels, and even how confident you feel using the affected area. Fear of movement (kinesiophobia) can actually worsen symptoms, so understanding your condition and feeling supported is a key part of supporting healing.
Physiotherapy plays a central role in recovery. A physio can assess your tendon, local and whole-body biomechanics, help you understand what’s happening inside your body and provide a management program. Physio guided adaptation of your mechanics and exercise therapy—especially progressive loading—is the most effective treatment for tendinopathy. It helps the tendon adapt, strengthen, and become more resilient.
At Busselton Physiotherapy Centre, we are also able to enhance tendon recovery with the use of shockwave therapy. Research shows that shock wave therapy can further assist pain reduction and the stimulation of tissue regeneration.
The good news is that tendinopathy is very treatable. With early intervention, the right guidance, and a whole‑person approach, you can get back to doing what you love with confidence.
If you have a tendon injury that is new, recurring or grumbling, get in touch for an assessment and action plan to get the spring back in your stride and tendons. Contact us on 97524174
