Chronic tendon pain can make it difficult to exercise, work, or complete ordinary daily tasks. You may have tried rest, ice, braces, or medication and felt better temporarily—only for the pain to return when you resumed your normal activities.
At Greentree Medical & Wellness Center in Cherry Hill, we offer nonsurgical treatments designed to address injured or irritated tissue instead of simply masking discomfort. Two options we may consider for chronic tendon pain are platelet-rich plasma therapy and shockwave therapy.
Neither treatment is automatically better for everyone. The right choice depends on the affected tendon, how long you have experienced symptoms, the severity of the injury, and which treatments you have already tried.
Why Can Tendon Pain Become Chronic?
Tendons connect muscles to bones and must tolerate repeated tension as you move. Overuse, sudden increases in activity, improper technique, and changes in body mechanics can place more stress on a tendon than it can manage.
Common chronic tendon problems include:
- Tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow
- Achilles tendinopathy
- Rotator cuff tendinopathy
- Patellar tendon pain
- Plantar fasciitis
- Tendon injuries caused by work or sports
Rest may reduce symptoms, but it does not always restore the tendon’s ability to handle activity. If the underlying movement pattern or tissue problem remains, the pain can return.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment that delivers acoustic waves to the painful area. It is designed to stimulate a local healing response, improve circulation, and encourage changes within chronically irritated tissue.
At Greentree Medical & Wellness Center, we may recommend shockwave therapy for conditions such as chronic tennis elbow or plantar fasciitis. Because it does not involve injections or incisions, patients can generally return to ordinary daily activities without a surgical recovery period.
The treated area may feel tender afterward, and improvement is usually gradual rather than immediate. A series of sessions may be recommended based on your condition and response.
What Is PRP Therapy?
Platelet-rich plasma therapy begins with a small sample of your own blood. We process the sample in a centrifuge to create a concentrated platelet preparation, which is then injected into the injured area.
Platelets contain growth factors involved in the body’s natural healing response. PRP is intended to deliver a concentrated amount of these components directly to the area of tendon damage.
Because PRP involves an injection, temporary soreness may occur after treatment. Patients may also need to modify certain activities while the treated tissue responds. Improvement generally develops over time rather than providing instant pain relief.
How Do PRP and Shockwave Therapy Compare?
How Do PRP and Shockwave Therapy Compare?
| Consideration | Shockwave Therapy | PRP Therapy |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment type | Non-invasive acoustic-wave treatment | Minimally invasive injection |
| Treatment material | No medication or biological material is injected | Prepared from the patient’s own blood |
| Typical experience | Treatment is performed over the skin | Blood draw followed by a targeted injection |
| Recovery | Usually causes limited interruption to daily activities | May require temporary activity modification |
| Treatment schedule | Often performed as a series | May involve one or more injections |
| May be considered for | Chronic tendon irritation and overuse conditions | Persistent tendon injuries needing a targeted biological approach |
The number of treatments and recovery recommendations vary. We discuss these details with you after evaluating your condition.
When Might We Recommend Shockwave Therapy?
We may consider shockwave therapy when you prefer a non-invasive option or have a chronic tendon problem that has not improved with basic conservative care.
It may be appropriate when the goal is to stimulate the affected tissue without an injection. Your condition, comfort level, health history, and the location of the injury all influence whether shockwave therapy is a reasonable option.
When Might We Recommend PRP?
PRP may be considered when tendon pain is persistent, the tissue has experienced a more significant injury, or previous conservative treatments have not provided adequate improvement.
Because PRP is injected into a specific location, an accurate diagnosis is essential. It is not appropriate for every type of pain, and results vary according to the condition being treated and individual healing factors.
Is One Treatment Better Than the Other?
For many patients, the better treatment is the one that most closely matches the condition—not necessarily the newest or most intensive option.
Shockwave therapy may be preferable if you want a non-invasive treatment with minimal disruption to your routine. PRP may be considered when a targeted injection is appropriate for a stubborn tendon injury. In some cases, treatment may also be combined with activity changes, corrective exercises, or other therapies to address the factors that overloaded the tendon.
During your evaluation at Greentree Medical & Wellness Center, we will listen to your concerns, review your health history, and examine how the injured area moves. We will explain your options and recommend a plan based on your needs rather than using the same approach for every patient.
Explore Chronic Tendon Pain Treatment in Cherry Hill, NJ
If tendon pain keeps returning or prevents you from enjoying work, exercise, or everyday activities, you may have options beyond continued rest or surgery.
Call Greentree Medical & Wellness Center in Cherry Hill, NJ, at 856-761-8100 to schedule a complimentary consultation. Our team can evaluate your chronic tendon pain and help you determine whether PRP, shockwave therapy, or another personalized nonsurgical treatment may be appropriate.