By Helena O’Leary
How it all started
I’ve always been a dancer at heart. I grew up doing ballet, and although I loved every moment of it, I’m pretty sure that’s where the first seeds of my Achilles trouble were planted. Years of rising onto demi-pointe and endless jumping sequences probably left their mark.
Fast forward to my thirties, when I decided it would be fun to take up Irish dance. Don’t forget Coventry has a strong Irish population or at least traditionally it always has. I adore the energy and the music, but Irish dance isn’t gentle, especially the vertical jumps. And truthfully, I may have been a bit too old to jump straight into it the way I did. The pain that followed in my Achilles tendon was a sharp reminder that enthusiasm doesn’t always equal readiness.
Finding the right clinic
After weeks of stubbornly hoping the pain would disappear on its own, I booked an appointment at Central Shockwave Therapy Clinic on Park Road in Coventry. I initially put into ChatGPT ‘achilles tendinopathy in Coventry, help’. Central Shockwave Therapy Clinic’s sister company, Central Chiropractic Clinic came up and the receptionist made me an appointment for the shockwave clinic.
I didn’t get the usual overly optimistic promises and a hard sell. Instead, I got down-to-earth honesty. From the first session, they told me exactly what shockwave therapy could and couldn’t do, and what sort of recovery I should realistically expect. I appreciated that more than anything.
The shockwave sessions
I had five sessions in total, each costing £75. I felt the difference surprisingly quickly.
Session-by-session progress
Session 1: A little soreness afterward, but within a couple of days I felt a noticeable lift in the stiffness.
Session 2: Another small step forward.
Session 3: This was the turning point—I could walk downstairs in the morning without that tight, burning sensation.
Session 4: More improvement, like my tendon was finally waking up.
Session 5: By now, the pain had faded to almost nothing.
Each session seemed to give me about 10% more recovery, and I could genuinely feels the difference within a few days every time.
Where I am now…
I’m not completely perfect, but at this stage the tendinopathy is faint, more of a whisper than a shout. I can move, walk, and even dance lightly without bracing myself for that sharp pull of pain.
Shockwave therapy wasn’t a miracle cure, but for me it was the steady, realistic, and measurable solution I needed. I’m grateful I found a clinic that treated me like a human being, not a sales opportunity. And I’m even more grateful to have my tendon back to a point where it feels like mine again.
If anyone else out there is struggling with Achilles issues, especially fellow dancers, hope my experience helps you feel a bit less stuck and a bit more hopeful.
