Shockwave Therapy for Hamstring Tightness

Woman stretching her hamstring outdoors on a concrete ledge, wearing athletic clothes and earphones, with a gym bag nearby.

Chronic Hamstring Tightness: Can Shockwave Therapy Help?

For those suffering from tight hamstrings, there has been some encouraging research of late into the effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) in improving hamstring flexibility, especially combined with stretching exercises in healthy participants (see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5368153/).

Interestingly, the study concluded that shockwave therapy combined with stretching exercises was more beneficial than stretching alone:

“While ESWT and stretching both reduced hamstring tightness immediately after interventions, only ESWT with stretching exercise maintained the significantly improved relief of hamstring tightness significantly after 4 weeks.

[…]

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate ESWT or stretching exercise combined with ESWT on hamstring tightness in normal individuals. Flexibility is an important component of a physical condition that allows the tissue to readily accommodate to stress, to dissipate shock impact, and to improve efficiency of movement, thus minimizing or preventing injury.23 The prevalence of low back pain was found to be increased in patients having tight musculature in the lower spine, as well as the hamstring muscles.24 Hamstring tightness is also a risk factor for the development of patella tendinopathy and patellofemoral pain,23,25 hamstring strain injury, and symptoms of muscle damage following eccentric exercise.26

What Causes Chronically Tight Hamstrings?

Tight hamstrings may stem from prolonged sitting, postural imbalances, previous injury, or muscular compensation. Chronically tight hamstrings can contribute to conditions like:

  • Low back pain

  • Hamstring strain injuries

  • Patellar tendinopathy

  • Restricted movement and flexibility

Understanding the root cause of tightness is key to achieving lasting relief.

At Spine Sport Feet we regularly incorporate Shockwave therapy and stretching exercises as treatment options, so are well-placed to help with hamstring tightness, or other musculoskeletal problems including:

What is Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)?

Patient receiving shockwave therapy for hamstring tightness at Spine Sport Feet clinic.

Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive treatment that uses mechanical sound waves to promote tissue healing. It’s commonly used for tendinopathies, plantar fasciitis, and muscle tightness—especially in stubborn or chronic cases.

Key benefits of shockwave therapy for tight hamstrings include:

1) Enhancing / speeding up the body’s healing process. Shockwaves produce an inflammatory response that increases metabolic activity at the site of injury, promoting the remodeling of dysfunctional collagenous tissues (such as injured muscles, tendons, ligaments etc).

2)  Breaking down scar tissue and/or calcification 

3)  Diminishing the transmission of pain is through neurological mechanisms (inhibition of nociceptors). 

Why Combine Shockwave Therapy with Stretching?

While static stretching alone can help lengthen muscles, pairing it with shockwave therapy may enhance outcomes. ESWT prepares the muscle tissue to better respond to stretching by loosening deep tissue and increasing elasticity.

 

At Spine Sport Feet, we integrate shockwave therapy and guided stretching routines tailored to your needs—improving recovery and preventing re-tightening of the hamstrings.

Other Conditions Shockwave Therapy May Help

In addition to hamstring tightness, we regularly use shockwave therapy for:

 

  • Rotator cuff tendinopathies

  • Plantar fasciitis and other fasciopathies

  • Trigger points and chronic muscle tightness

  • Tendon and ligament strains

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What causes chronically tight hamstrings?
A: Chronic hamstring tightness may be caused by muscle imbalances, previous injuries, prolonged sitting, or postural issues. Without proper intervention, it can increase injury risk.

Q: Is shockwave therapy safe for tight hamstrings?
A: Yes. Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive and clinically researched treatment with minimal side effects when administered by trained professionals.

Q: How many sessions do I need for hamstring tightness?
A: This varies based on severity and duration, but many patients see improvement within 3–6 sessions, especially when combined with a stretching program.

Q: Can I stretch after shockwave therapy?
A: Absolutely. In fact, combining stretching with ESWT enhances effectiveness by improving tissue elasticity and flexibility.

Book a Consultation for Chronic Hamstring Relief

Book an appointment with one of our chiropractors or podiatrists to find out more about Shockwave therapy, or call us on (07)5580 5655.

Spine Sport Feet Clinic (previously Coomera Wellness Centre) has been providing allied health care services to the Gold Coast area for over 15 years.  We are located in Homeworld Helensvale, 502 Hope Island Road, in the medical precinct.