By: Dr. Goodman, DC, and Dr. Bradberry, DC | ReliefNow Laser Charlotte | Charlotte, North Carolina
Achilles tendinopathy is one of the most common and most undertreated overuse injuries in recreational and competitive athletes, affecting roughly 8 to 11 percent of all running injuries according to research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. For Charlotte’s runners, cyclists, CrossFit athletes, and soccer players, along with the active adults of Pineville, Matthews, Ballantyne, and Mecklenburg County’s trail communities, it is a familiar obstacle. Rest, orthotics, and cortisone injections often fail to resolve it because they target the symptom of what is fundamentally a degenerative condition.
Why Does Achilles Tendinopathy Become a Chronic Injury?
Chronic Achilles tendinopathy is a tendinosis, marked by disorganized collagen, neovascularization, and an absence of inflammatory cells. Anti-inflammatory treatments act on a symptom that the chronic tendon may no longer have, which leaves the structural quality of the tissue unchanged.
Research published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery has established that chronic Achilles tendinopathy is pathologically a tendinosis, a problem of tissue quality rather than active inflammation. This also explains the caution around repeated cortisone injections. The medical literature links them to risks that include tendon rupture and fat pad disruption, and those risks tend to compound with repeated use.
How Does Laser Therapy Fit Into Achilles Tendon Care?
At ReliefNow Laser Charlotte, the doctors use Class IV near-infrared laser therapy as part of their approach to Achilles tendon injuries. This form of photobiomodulation is studied for its role in supporting the body’s natural tissue-repair processes, and it is applied directly over the affected tendon during short in-office sessions.
A 2014 randomized controlled trial in the American Journal of Sports Medicine reported that laser therapy reduced pain and improved functional outcomes in people with Achilles tendinopathy compared with a control group. Findings like these describe the modality in general terms, and any individual outcome depends on the person, the severity of the condition, and the wider care plan.
What Should Charlotte Athletes Know About Recovery?
Dr. Goodman runs 5K and Spartan races and trains in CrossFit, so he understands first-hand what Achilles pain costs an active person. Dr. Bradberry has worked with Olympic-bound athletes from four nations, and managing tendon injuries is a core part of his CCSP-level sports medicine training.
Recovery rarely comes down to the tendon alone. Dr. Goodman’s neurokinetic therapy training looks at calf muscle inhibition and gluteal activation deficits, the biomechanical patterns that can keep loading the Achilles and contribute to recurrence when left unaddressed. Rebuilding tendon strength also takes time, and progressive, graded loading is the most evidence-supported foundation for tendon rehabilitation.
Dr. Bradberry’s CCSP work in return-to-sport protocols is designed to help Charlotte athletes rebuild training volume at an appropriate pace, with the goal of lowering the chance of re-injury.
To learn more about the practice, athletes can visit ReliefNow Laser Charlotte or watch patient education on the ReliefNow Nation channel. The clinic is located at 4601 Park Rd, Suite 100, Charlotte, NC 28209, and can be reached at 704-527-7246.
About the Authors
Dr. Eric Goodman, DC, studied at UNC-Charlotte and Palmer College of Chiropractic, with postgraduate training in neurokinetic therapy, acupuncture, laser therapy, rehabilitation, and nutrition. He is a 5K and Spartan racer and a CrossFit athlete.
Dr. Douglas Bradberry, DC, graduated from the University of Florida and earned honors at Palmer College of Chiropractic, holds the CCSP credential, and has worked in Olympic-level sports medicine. Both doctors are providers in the national ReliefNow network, founded by Dr. Robert Hanopole, DC.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any treatment program.
