Inclusions criteria | Exclusion criteria (other contraindications to PBMT or ESWT) |
1. Age 18–65 | 1. Less than 3 months of symptoms |
2. Diagnosis of Achilles tendinopathy (either unilateral or bilateral) | 2. Have received shockwave therapy within the past 3 months to their Achilles |
3. Preinjury would run on average 10 miles or more a week | 3. Currently enrolled in physical therapy for more than 4 weeks for this condition |
4. Victorian Institute of Sports Assessment—Achilles of <80 at baseline | 4. Primary insertional Achilles tendinopathy |
5. Prior injections in the past 3 months | |
6. Diagnosis of rheumatological disease/connective tissue condition, symptomatic arthritis of foot and ankle, a primary running-related injury outside Achilles tendinopathy | |
7. Pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant during the study due to unknown safety of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and external factor that would affect their ability to return to exercise | |
8. Neuropathy diagnosis that would affect response to pain | |
9. Known underlying cardiac condition 10. History of known Achilles tendon rupture 11. Use of fluoroquinolone or steroid at time of study enrolment |