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Achilles tendinopathy is a debilitating and often persistent injury. Whether you’re an athlete, runner, or someone who just uses their feet a lot, chronic Achilles pain can limit your life. At Mr Salus Sporting Lab in London, we offer advanced, non-invasive treatment using EMS high-power laser therapy, often combined with shockwave therapy, to effectively reduce pain, reduce inflammation, and stimulate long-term tendon healing.
Achilles tendinopathy refers to degeneration, thickening, or microtears in the Achilles tendon — usually due to overload, poor mechanics, or repetitive stress.
Left untreated, it can lead to long-term pain, reduced function, and risk of rupture.
Conventional approaches often include load management, eccentric exercise, and physiotherapy.
But for stubborn or chronic cases, technology-assisted therapies like high-power laser therapy provide a powerful adjunct.
High power laser therapy (also known as photobiomodulation) works by delivering deep-penetrating light energy into tissues.
This energy can:
Modulate inflammation.
Stimulate cellular repair and collagen synthesis.
Reduce pain via analgesic effects.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, our EMS high-power laser machine is one of the most powerful yet safe devices on the market.
According to our High Power Laser Physiotherapy page, it offers strong anti-inflammatory, anti-oedema, and pain-relieving benefits.
We often combine our high-power laser treatments with radial shockwave therapy.
The laser therapy helps to precondition the tendon, reducing pain and inflammation, which in turn may make shockwave therapy more tolerable and effective.
Our sports clinic in London offers a multimodal approach that targets both symptoms and underlying pathology.
There is a growing body of research supporting laser therapy (photobiomodulation) for Achilles tendinopathy and related tendon injuries:
High-Power Laser (HPLT) Clinical Trial
A randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled study of patients with chronic Achilles tendinosis found that HPLT significantly reduced pain, and increased pain thresholds compared to placebo. PubMed
Meta-Analysis of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
A systematic review and meta-analysis found limited but promising evidence: while studies had low to very low certainty, some pain and functional improvements were noted when laser therapy was added to exercise. PubMed
PBM + Eccentric Exercise
In a double-blind RCT, photobiomodulation (laser) added to eccentric exercise produced greater improvements in VISA-A (a validated Achilles tendon score) than exercise alone. PubMed
Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism
A controlled trial showed low-level laser therapy reduced prostaglandin E₂ (a marker of inflammation) in Achilles tendinitis, and increased pain threshold. PubMed
Safety & Morphology
An exploratory study investigated the immediate effects of photobiomodulation on Achilles tendon structure and stiffness, finding no negative mechanical changes within hours of treatment — suggesting it’s safe to use before loading. PubMed
Emerging Combined Therapy Research
A study protocol (not yet completed) is testing a combination of ESWT (shockwave) + PBMT (laser) + exercise in runners with non-insertional Achilles tendinopathy. PubMed
Here’s how we typically treat Achilles tendinopathy with our high-power laser, often alongside shockwave therapy:
Initial Assessment
Thorough clinical evaluation: history, biomechanics, pain patterns, and functional limitations.
Imaging/ultrasound scan assessment if needed (to rule out tear or severe degeneration).
Laser Pre-Treatment
We apply our high-power laser therapy over the affected portion of the tendon for a clinically appropriate duration ( 5 minutes is used in combination with shockwave therapy; 25 minutes if the Laser Therapy is used standalone).
The goal is to reduce inflammation, ease pain, and “prime” the tissue in the case the treatment is in combination with shockwave therapy.
Shockwave Session (if indicated)
After laser pre-treatment, we may deliver radial shockwave therapy (using a shockwave device) to the tendon.
This can stimulate repair, neovascularisation, and tissue remodelling.
Because of the laser, many patients find the shockwave more comfortable.
Rehabilitation & Exercise
Hands-on physiotherapy (e.g. sports massage, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilisation) is used where appropriate.
Monitoring & Follow-up
We reassess pain, function (e.g. VISA-A), and tendon structure over the course of treatment.
We adjust the protocol based on response, and may continue laser, shockwave, or both over multiple sessions.
By choosing the sports injury clinic Mr Salus Sporting Lab in London, you will get many benefits for your Achilles Tendinopathy, such as:
Cutting-edge Equipment: We use one of the most powerful EMS high-power laser machines available — maximising therapeutic potential while maintaining safety.
Experienced Clinicians: Our physiotherapists are skilled in both manual therapy and advanced modalities.
Personalised Care: We don’t just treat the tendon — we look at the whole kinetic chain, gait biomechanics, and contributing factors.
Evidence-Informed Approach: Our protocols are grounded in research (see above), and we stay up to date with emerging science.
Patient Comfort: By combining laser with shockwave, we aim to enhance efficacy while reducing discomfort.
You might benefit from high-power laser therapy for Achilles tendinopathy if:
You have chronic Achilles pain (mid-portion or insertional) not fully resolved by exercise alone.
You prefer non-surgical, non-invasive treatment options.
You’re willing to engage in rehabilitation and loading exercises alongside the treatment.
You don’t have contraindications to laser therapy (e.g. malignant lesions, certain light-sensitive conditions).
Safety: High-power laser therapy is generally very safe in experienced hands and when delivered correctly.
Eye Protection: During laser sessions, both patient and therapist wear protective goggles.
Not a Magic Bullet: While powerful, laser therapy is most effective when combined with hands-on physiotherapy and biomechanical rehab.
Variable Response: Some people respond very well, others more modestly — clinical response can vary.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, our treatment philosophy for Achilles tendinopathy is rooted in combining innovative, evidence-based modalities.
High-power laser therapy offers deep, non-invasive photobiomodulation to reduce inflammation and pain, while our expertise in combining this with shockwave therapy and hands-on physiotherapy ensures a comprehensive, long-lasting approach.
If you’ve struggled with persistent Achilles tendon pain, you may be a great candidate for this modern treatment pathway.
Book a first assessment and Hands-on Physio Treatment now, and discover how we can help you get back to moving with confidence.
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