Achilles Tendonitis

The Achilles tendon is a common culprit of tendonitis, particularly in athletes. This tendon is very thick and stores a lot of potential energy when stretched, quite literally giving us springs when running and jumping! Tendonitis in this area can develop purely from repetitive use and from pressure and friction of the heel counter of footwear. A difficult area to rest, when irritated the Achilles tendon tends to express symptoms for a protracted period and there is often bursitis occurring concurrently: laser therapy reduces inflammation, improves circulation and extensibility of this tendon and calms irritation of adjacent structures.

Laser therapy is a highly effective treatment option, particularly when combined with assessment and treatment of the entire lower extremity to enhance mechanical efficiency. Such treatment includes chiropractic adjustments from the foot up into the pelvis to offload the injured tendon and Active Release Techniques® to eliminate scar tissue commonly found in the calf and hamstring muscles with this injury. Both interventions serve to normalize the strain on the Achilles tendon to support the rehabilitative phase. In particularly challenging cases where poor foot mechanics are the primary driver of this injury, custom orthotic therapy is an effective option to maintain optimal foot and ankle motion and reduce strain on the Achilles tendon.