If you suffer from Achilles tendonitis and are looking for an effective remedy, you've come to the right place. In this blog, we'll find out how electrostimulation can be an innovative method of treating this common injury. Learn how this technology can help you recover faster and regain your mobility.
1st phase of Achilles tendonitis: Acute phase
Achilles tendon disorders are the most common problem among long-distance runners. Joint wear and tear are generally the main cause of tendon pain in this sport. Causes can vary.
Tendinopathy begins with an acute or inflammatory phase. During this phase, the tendon is hot and red. You feel a sharp pain when you touch the tendon or move your ankle. The pain prevents running and can interfere with daily activities, such as going down the stairs.
The Tendinitis program helps to effectively reduce tendon pain during the inflammatory phase. It is important to rest completely during this period. Resuming training too soon or too quickly can lead to relapses and a long period of unavailability.
After the acute phase, Achilles tendonitis often becomes chronic. The Muscle Pain program may be appropriate, but not always. It's important to consult a healthcare professional before starting the recommended treatment.
✅Program:
Tendinitis (or Tens or modulated Tens depending on Compex model)
🕒Duration of treatment:
For the duration of the acute phase and the persistence of inflammatory signs.
At least 1 session every day. If required, sessions can be repeated several times a day.
📍Electrode placement:
The aim is to cover the entire surface of the painful area with as many electrodes as necessary.
🧘Body position:
Place yourself in the most comfortable indifferent position
⚙️Adjusting intensity:
Desired effect: Obtain a pronounced but painless tingling sensation.
For devices not equipped with mi-TENS technology, the aim is to obtain a pronounced but painless tingling sensation.
Gradually increase stimulation energies until you feel a pronounced tingling sensation. Reduce the stimulation energy level if an undesirable muscle contraction occurs.
For devices equipped with mi-TENS technology, the intensity zone that induces optimal stimulation automatically regulates the level of stimulation energies to avoid unwanted muscle contraction.
- On SP 4.0 and SP 8.0, as soon as the intensity is too high and an unwanted contraction is detected, the device will automatically lower the intensity.
Advice during acute treatment
During treatment, it is advisable to remain active and continue with gentle exercises to maintain mobility and muscle strength. However, it is important to avoid movements that aggravate pain or could further damage the affected area.
Measures to reduce inflammation are also recommended, such as applying ice to the painful area for 15-20 minutes several times a day. This can help relieve pain and reduce swelling.
2nd phase: the chronic phase
Tendinopathy usually evolves through an initial acute phase, followed by a chronic phase in which the obvious signs of inflammation (heat, redness) have disappeared. The pain is no longer present, and no longer interferes with daily activities such as going down the stairs. However, persistent discomfort or a slight reawakening of pain may occur when training is resumed, albeit at an extremely gradual pace.
It should be noted that the resumption of sporting activity should always be done with the green light from a medical authority and in an extremely gradual manner (slow, short jogging on soft ground to start with). The onset of discomfort or the reawakening of pain should, in principle, always lead to an interruption of the training session. During this chronic phase, the tendon is in convalescence, and there may be microlesions of the tendon fibers, which are still healing. The Muscle Pain program is designed to increase blood flow to all the muscles of the calf (sural triceps) and Achilles tendon, which is highly beneficial to the healing process.
The Muscle Pain program should never be started too early, i.e. during the acute phase, as there is then a potential risk of worsening inflammatory signs.
✅Program:
Muscle pain (or Chronic tendonitis or Endorphinic depending on Compex model)
🕒Treatment duration:
For the duration of the chronic phase, until complete disappearance of painful signs.
At least 1 session every day. If possible, 2 sessions per day, with at least 10 minutes' rest between the 2 sessions.
📍Electrode placement:
🧘Body position:
Sitting or lying down in a comfortable position
⚙️Adjustment of intensity:
Desired effect => Obtain pronounced muscle jolts while remaining comfortable.
The intensity should be increased until you obtain a muscular response resembling a flutter or a strong vibration, also known as muscular jerking. This muscular activity, which is very different from a real contraction, acts like a pump and is decisive in provoking a sharp increase in blood flow to the stimulated muscle. As you increase the intensity, the muscle twitching is initially discreet, then becomes increasingly pronounced before reaching a ceiling where the muscular response is maximal.
It is, however, possible to increase the intensity, but this does not bring any additional benefits.
For devices with mi-RANGE technology, the intensity zone that induces optimal stimulation is indicated on the display.
