Management of chronic Achilles tendinopathy with High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT®) and eccentric exercises

A. Valent
Energy for Health [13], 2014

Achilles tendinopathies are classic pathologies due to functional overuse that mostly affect sportspeople and that are characterized by degenerative rather than inflammatory alterations. They present risk factors which can be related to intrinsic features of the subject or independent from these. Achilles tendinopathies classify in insertional tendinopathies and non insertional tendinopathies. Non insertional tendinopathies are localized in the area between 2 and 6 cm from the calcaneus insertion and they are the most frequent ones. Insertional tendinopathies are instead localized within 2 cm from the insertion and they are frequently accompanied by posterior calcaneal and/or superficial bursitis. Among the recommended treatments, the eccentric exercises present the major evidences in literature. In this clinical study we selected 20 patients affected by Achilles tendinopathy and we divided them into two homogenous groups. In group A all patients have been treated with High Intensity Laser Therapy (HILT^®) combined with eccentric exercises, while in group B patients have carried out eccentric exercises combined with a HILT^® placebo. From the analysis of the data obtained through pain VAS scale and functionality VISA-A scale, it emerged that both groups obtained a progressive pain decrease and functionality increase. However, the group A (HILT^® + eccentric exercises) achieved statistically better results compared to group B (eccentric exercises + placebo HILT^®) with a pain decrease equal to 74% against 57% and a functionality increase equal to 90% against 64%. In conclusion, our clinical study pointed out that HILT^® combined with eccentric exercises is able to achieve better results in respect to eccentric exercises alone.