APTA recommends LLLT for Achilles Tendinopathies

American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Clinical Guidelines recommend Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) for Achilles tendinopathies. The report says “Clinicians should consider the use of low level laser therapy to decrease pain and stiffness in patients with Achilles tendinopathy.” Hooray, it’s only been 20 years since Chukuka Enwemeka first published his tendinopathy research. It is unfortunate that the guidelines neglected to comment on the importance of treatment parameters, they incorrectly describe energy as “intensity” and failed to mention Tumilty’s systematic review which found that 55% of LLLT tendinopathy studies failed due to incorrect power density and / or energy delivered.

You can download the APTA paper here APTA-Achilles-Tendinopathy-Guideline-USA-2010.pdf

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