An Overview of Achilles Bursitis

There are 2 bursae that surround the Achilles tendon to protect it from friction - the retrocalcaneal bursa and the subcutaneous calcaneal bursa.

The retrocalcaneal bursa lies between the tendon and the back, or posterior surface, of the heel bone (calcaneus). This is a "true" bursa that is present from birth. It acts as a cushion between these two structures to protect the tendon from friction against the heel bone.

The larger subcutaneous calcaneal bursa lies over top of the tendon at the lower part of the heel where the tendon joins to the heel bone. This bursa develops as you age with the intent of protecting the tendon from friction at the back of the heel. It is not found in everyone and for this reason is termed an "adventitious" bursa.

The most common bursa to be inflamed in the foot is the retrocalcaneal bursa (also referred to as the subtendinous calcaneal bursa). Located between the Achilles tendon and the heel bone (calcaneus), it acts as a cushion to protect the Achilles tendon from friction against the heel bone. Also commonly affected, the subcutaneous calcaneal bursa (also referred to as the Achilles bursa), located between the Achilles tendon and the skin, sits a little lower down the ankle towards the heel than the retrocalcaneal bursa.

Due to the proximity to the area on the Achilles tendon, Achilles bursitis is often mistaken for tendinitis. Achilles bursitis is a common overuse injury in runners, ice skaters and other athletes.

You might be suffering from achilles bursitis if:

• You have sharp pain at the back of your heel.
• You have lump on the back of your heel.
• You have loss of range of motion walking and the pressure for shoes causes you to limp and you have weakness in your leg.
• You have warmth, redness and swelling on the heel.

If any of those statements are true for you or you're suffering from on-going pain in your heel then you might have an injury called "retrocalcaneal bursitis".

A bursa is a sac of synovial fluid, rich in protein and collagen. These fluid-filled sacs form in areas where 2 surfaces in your body - most often where a bone and tendon or a bone and muscle - rub together during movement. When pressure or friction is too high, excess fluid can build up in the bursa sac and/or the the lining of the sac can thicken, causing inflammation. When an achilles bursa becomes inflamed, moving your heel becomes painful and difficult. Any actions that put pressure on the inflamed bursa can increase irritation and cause further inflammation and pain.

Bursitis occurs when a bursa is irritated from frequent pressure and it becomes inflamed. When one or both of the bursae (outlined at the top of this page) become inflamed, it is generally referred to as Achilles bursitis because of the bursa's proximity to the Achilles tendon. In some cases, an inflamed bursa can become infected with bacteria (referred to as septic bursitis) and can quickly become life threatening. It is important to see a doctor quickly if you have an infected bursa.

Achilles bursitis can happen to anyone - seriously. The achilles tendon handles extreme forces everyday, and the achilles bursae handle the friction from these forces. Achilles bursitis can happen from acute trauma (direct hit on the bursa), but often results from stress due to repetitive movements (running, walking, jogging) as part of your job or from sports related activities. Achilles bursitis becomes more prevalent due to aging as soft tissue around the ankle and bursae become weakened as we grow older.

Achilles bursitis is one of those injuries that can really bring down the quality of your life. Anyone - young or old - can suffer from this injury, and if you're active this condition will keep you from doing the things you love to do. It will definitely interrupting any of your normal daily tasks and make living life harder than it really needs to be.

Inflammation of the achilles bursae or the achilles tendon usually develops due to overuse, trauma, or degeneration of the protective tissue in the heel and lower leg. Specific causes include:

Acute Trauma - A direct blow to the back of the heel can cause injury to the retrocalcaneal bursa. In such cases, blood may leak into the bursa causing irritation, inflammation, swelling and

Excess Stress - Without exercise or activity, muscles can weaken and your heel no longer has the muscle support it needs to move correctly. This can cause excess load on the lower leg and heel or your weight may be distributed unevenly within your ankle joint. Uneven distribution of weight will put extra stress on some areas compared to others leading to abnormal wear and tear on the stressed areas.

Athletes who overtrain or runners that increase their distance to quickly are at greater risk of experiencing Achilles bursitis. With over use, the Achilles bursae and tendon can become irritated and inflamed leading to thickening of the bursae lining and wearing of the tendon. Fluid builds in the bursa when it becomes irritated causing swelling of the Achilles bursa and pain at the back of the heel.

Overuse Injury (Chronic) - Excessive friction, or rubbing, on the retrocalcaneal bursa can aggravate it over time. If your run, walk or hike often, you may be at higher risk of achilles bursitis due to frequent stress and friction on the achilles bursa. This risk increases if there is anything that many cause abnormal wear and tear within the joint.

Improper foot wear, tight shoes or shoes that do not fit properly can cause extra pressure and friction on the back of the heel. Over time, this pressure causes irritation of the bursae that protects the Achilles tendon causing one or both to swell and become inflamed.

Pressure on the Bursa - Work and frequent activities that place repetitive pressure on the infrapatellar bursa can cause achilles bursitis. Although the bursae in your heel function as cushions to protect the tendons and other soft tissue, frequent walking or stair climbing during your work or activities often creates more stress than they can handle. The excess pressure causes the bursa to become irritated and inflamed, leading to swelling and thickening of the bursa lining.

Infection (Septic Bursitis) - The closer the bursa is to the surface of the skin, the more likely the chance of infection from specific bacteria that are commonly found on the surface of the skin. This infection is known as septic bursitis and common bacteria that create this infection are known as Staphylococcus Epidermis (or Staphylococcus Aureus). This bacteria can affect the bursa if the heel is cut or scraped, allowing it to get under the skin.

Symptoms of Achilles Bursitis

Symptoms of Achilles bursitis are often mistaken for Achilles tendinitis because of the location of the pain at the back of the heel. When you suffer from Achilles bursitis you will experience some or all of the following symptoms which are most noticeable when you begin activity after resting.

• Pain at the back of the heel, especially with jumping, hopping, tip-toeing, walking or running uphill or on soft surfaces. If tendonitis is also present, the pain can radiate away from the bursa.
• Direct pressure on the bursa will exacerbate the pain and should be avoided if possible.
• Swelling, Tenderness, Warmth, and Redness might make it difficult to wear certain shoes on the feet. In severe cases, the bursa will appear as a bump, called a "pump bump", and is usually red, and extremely tender. Swelling can cause difficulties moving as the range of motion in the ankle can be affected. This swelling may appear immediately following trauma, over a couple of hours, or up to 7-10 days after the event that caused the irritation.
• Limping due to the pain may occur
• If you press on both sides of the inflamed heel, there may be a firm spongy feeling.
• Weakness in the tendons and muscles surrounding the bursa can develop as the pain worsens and the inflammation in the area spreads.
• Possibly a fever if you are suffering from septic bursitis (You will need to see a doctor for medication to get rid of the infection).
• Individuals that wear high-heeled shoes frequently may feel an increase in pain when they are wearing flat shoes When wearing high-heels, the calf muscles and Achilles tendon remain in a shortened position. When flat shoes are worn it causes the calf muscles and Achilles tendon to stretch more than usual causing the tendon to tighten around the heel bone causing irritation.
• Limited Range of Motion and Weakness - Pain often limits your stride as you stop performing motions that make the pain worse. If bursitis is left untreated the inflammation can increase, causing more pain, limiting movement even more. Eventually, weakness in the leg muscles and and tendons around the heel and lower leg can set in.

How Do I Diagnose Achilles Bursitis?

When you are experiencing heel pain and suspect you have bursitis, the best way to diagnose this condition is with a quick visit to your doctor for a physical examination of your heel. Getting a proper diagnosis is important so you can treat your condition correctly. Untreated chronic inflammation of bursitis can lead to calcification of the bursa. Calcification of the bursa will mean that it will become even more painful than before.

To begin with, your doctor will gather a medical history about you and your current condition and symptoms. He/she will ask about the amount pain you are having with your lower leg and heel. How long you have had your symptoms and if you are experiencing a range of motion loss or limp when walking/running. Details about what caused the pain in the heel, when it started, and whether or not you have ever had treatments for this or a similar condition in the past, are very helpful in assessing your injury.

Range of motion movements / tests will be done to see how much movement has been lost in your heel. Your heel might hurt from the doctor poking and prodding at it, but by doing this the doctor will better understand the source of your pain, the level of tenderness in the area and how well you can move with this condition.

Your doctor may also consider any previous foot/knee injuries or joint stiffness that you may have had in the past. This will help the doctor to determine if you have a more complex injury in your heel and rule out any other foot injuries that may be present.

If a soft tissue injury is suspected, an MRI may be undertaken to view where and how extensive the damage is. An x-ray may be recommended to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. Possible causes of pain that an x-ray can identify include instability, abnormal bone shapes (bone spurs or bone cysts), wear and tear on the joints, avulsion fractures (when a fragment of bone tears away from the main bone along with the muscle, tendon, or ligament as a result of trauma), dislocations, arthritis, calcium deposits in the bursa or joint, and/or other problems.

As the bursae in the heel are close to the surface of the skin, they significantly susceptible to septic bursitis (caused by a cut or scrape) than most other bursae. Your doctor may aspirate (use a needle) to remove fluid from the bursa to check for possible staphylococcus epidermis (or staphylococcus aureus) bacterial infection. Your doctor will be able to determine whether there is an infection or not by drawing a small sample of the bursa fluid with a needle. If it is determined that your bursitis is septic, you will be prescribed antibiotics to get rid of the infection.

A physical examination will be performed to determine if you have any signs of Achilles Bursitis or other ankle injury. He/she will look and feel the soft tissue and bones in your ankles to note any differences between the two of them. This will identify any abnormalities, such as swelling, bone deformities, atrophied muscles, redness and/or warmth on the skin. In many cases, the first sign that you have Achilles bursitis is swelling in the back of the foot and ankle pain.

If a soft tissue injury is suspected, an MRI will likely be done to view where and how much the damage is in your ankle. An x-ray may be recommended to rule out a bone spur or other foreign body as the cause of your ankle pain.

As the subcutaneous bursa is close to the surface of the skin, it is more susceptible to septic, or infectious, bursitis caused by a cut or scrape at the back of the heel. Septic bursitis required antibiotics to get rid of the infection. Your doctor will be able to determine whether there is an infection or not by drawing a small sample of the bursa fluid with a needle.

Are You Sure It Is Achilles Bursitis?

Pain, swelling and inflammation at the back of your heel could mean that you have achilles bursitis, but it's also important to consider that there are other conditions that might cause pain and swelling in the area too. Visiting your doctor when you have achilles pain is always recommended, as there are many possible issues that can happen within the Achilles and ankle. Sometimes, one set of symptoms can result in multiple diagnoses.

Haglund's Deformity (also known as Haglund's Syndrome) refers to an enlarged boney protrusion on the upper, back part of the heel bone. It is caused by calcification of the heel bone due to the inflammation of Haglund's Syndrome, a combination of Achilles tendinitis and Achilles bursitis. The boney protrusion causes further irritation to the retrocalcaneal bursa and Achilles tendon as it presses them between the protrusion and your shoes. This increased irritation then causes Haglund's Syndrome to become worse. Due to similar symptoms and the location in the Achilles tendon area, Haglund's Syndrome is frequently misdiagnosed as Achilles tendonitis.

Achilles Tendon Strain If you have a strained achilles tendon, you will experience pain along the back of your foot and above your heel, especially when stretching your ankle or standing on your toes. Most strains are mild, though this condition can persist and worsen if conservative treatment methods are not undertaken. The seriousness of the strain will most like affect the way you walk, forcing you to limp due to pain. A sudden increase in your activity or improper warm ups before activity can cause an Achilles tendon strain. Trying to go fast, jumping (hurdles), cutting (football) or twisting in the air are just some of the scenarios with an advanced risk of developing achilles tendon strain.

Achilles Tendonitis Achilles tendons carry our entire body weight so it makes sense that the achilles tendon is the thickest, strongest and most powerful tendon in the body. The achilles tendon responsible for many things, allowing you to walk, run, jump, or stand on your toes. Due to the major stresses taken on by this tendon, it is often injured either. Injury can also be attributed to overuse or as a result from excessive strain (even a traumatic accident or sudden pop). If you have tendinitis of the achilles, you will be suffering from irritation and inflammation in the back of the foot - just above the heel. Tendonitis is a result of degenerative tears within the tendon itself, and these microscopic tears are much akin to a rope that is starting to fray from excessive load.

Achilles Movement and the Re-Injury Cycle

Every time you flex your ankle, those ligaments and muscle tissue move; when they are inflamed, every movement hurts. Once this tissue is injured it's painful and becomes very difficult to recover 100% without proper treatment.

Re-Injury of the Achilles Tendon Must Be Avoided At All Costs

Constant re-injury needs to be avoided at all costs! Please excuse the obvious statement, but I really need to drive this point home. Re-Injury is very common... why? Everyone wants to get back to their regular lifestyle once the pain has reduced. Here is where you have to be careful - often, much of the pain is due to inflammation - so, once you iced the area and the swelling dropped, a lot of the pain probably disappeared too. So then you start back at your regular lifestyle and then all of a sudden the old injury starts flaring up again - this is re-injury!

Re-Injury is bad because sure, it delays the healing process, but what's worse is that every re-injury and additional healing cycle increases the amount of scar tissue that builds up in the area of your original achilles injury. This applies to muscle, tendons, ligaments and other connective tissue as well.

Scar tissue is a weak form of collagen - hard, inflexible, and tough to get rid of once it begins to take hold. The more scar tissue that develops, the more you lose the range of motion in your ankle. With excess scar tissue build up, the injured tissues and the achilles in general will remain weak and very prone to re-straining and re-tearing.

While you can go a number of days and even a few weeks without any major setbacks during the injury.. inevitably, a certain movement or motion will happen that causes your injured soft tissue to strain and even tear once again. This is attributed to the scar tissue build up and will result in the buildup of yet more scar tissue and a further reduced range of motion (ROM).

The more scar tissue that develops, the greater the risk of winding up permanently injured with chronic pain or arthritis. Scar tissue means that your achilles will not perform as well as it once did and it makes it much more prone to injury later on. The longer the injury remains, the risk of atrophy increases and the risk of more scar tissue increases. This is why it is critical to treat your achilles injury now rather than later.

An Achilles Injury Does Not Have to Persist For Months Or Longer. Here is Why It Does For Many

Recovery from an achilles injury can take a long time, especially when some of the less effective, traditional methods are utilized. This is simply because many treatments either focus on masking of pain or are too inconsistent to provide sustainable improvement.

1: Cortisone Injections Can Cause More Harm Than Good

The issue some of our clients find with cortisone injections is that people get a false sense that their injury is healed because they are not experiencing the pain they once did. Often, these clients engage in activities their doctor specifically told them not to do because they "no longer feel pain". Once the effects of the cortisone wear off in a few days or a week, people often find they have done more damage to their achilles and lower calf muscle. This of course, results in a prolonged recovery.

Merely masking the pain is not a solution; it is just a temporary fix. Cortisone does not provide a permanent contribution to any stage of healing.

2: Physical Therapy Helps (We Always Recommend It), But It Can Be Costly And Inconvenient

While we tout the benefits of physical therapy and believe it to be an integral recovery tool for most sufferers of soft tissue injuries, the problem is that people only attend sessions a few times a week.

To truly provide a long term solution to your tendon tear, tendonosis or tendonitis injury, you need to be receiving multiple treatments on a daily basis. Not just any type of treatments, but ones that focus on generation of new healthy tissue - along with proper synthesis of that tissue as well.

Treatments for soft tissue injuries such as bursitis are cumulative in nature...meaning the more the treatments are administered, the faster the benefits can be experienced.

Who these days has time to visit a therapist on a daily basis? Not only is your time limited, but the cost of daily physical therapy sessions is out of reach for most people.

Therefore, the focus needs to be on adding treatment options that can be done frequently, from the comfort of your own home (and even the workplace if the opportunity presents itself). We will discuss these options later on down the page.

3: People Tend To Focus Too Much On Cold Therapy Treatments

This is the third and final reason for extended soft tissue injury causes. We see it all the time - people for weeks and even months only focus on using cold therapy.

Doing too much cold therapy will actually inhibit the recovery because you are starving the injured tissues of the blood flow they need to repair and rebuild the collagen. Cold restricts the vessels - reducing the blood flow to the tissues that truly need it most.

The focus on cold therapy treatments should be in the earliest stages of an injury. In the mid and latter stages of a soft tissue injury, cold therapy is used intermittently to deal with flareups of swelling and inflammation.

The truth is, there will always some mild inflammation associated with tissue injuries. However, that inflammation will always remain UNTIL you begin to focus on healing the tissue. Once the tissues begin to heal, the inflammation will then subside more permanently - not just temporarily (as is often the case with cold therapy treatments on chronic soft tissue injuries).

As an analogy, think of a home with a leaky roof. You can place a bucket on the floor of the attic whenever it rains - and this will help temporarily, but does it truly address the situation? Obviously the answer is no. Not until you focus on repairing the structural issues with the roof - will the problem be actually solved.

The same concept applies to injured soft tissue - you need to focus on rebuilding and repairing them. To do this, you need more blood flow reaching them, not less.

Achilles Injuries Not Only Affect the Achilles - But Can Lead to Other Conditions and Injuries.

Every time we use our injured heel, damaged and swollen tendons and muscle tissue move; when they are inflamed, every movement hurts. With injured tissue, pain happens - sometimes a LOT of pain, so we try not to move it. So, when doing something we need to use our heel for (getting dressed, driving, talking on the phone), we start to use the knee and even the hips more. If we can, we use our other foot instead, even though it is inconvenient and usually the non-dominant foot.

A couple days later (after purposefully avoiding movement of our achilles), the pain has gone down (as well as the swelling) and this is where the trouble begins! The pain disappeared with the swelling but we still aren't fully healed! Not knowing this, we start using our achilles normally again and then the pain shows up again like it did before - all because the injury wasn't fully healed in the first place.

Eventually, we use the other joints more and more, instead of having to put the injured achilles under strain again. This is why these other areas start to hurt - they are being overused now. Soon, aches and pain can become commonplace in other areas of the lower body - all as a result of the original injury and the body's instinctive nature to "protect" the original achilles tendon injury - all because the injury wasn't fully healed in the first place!

Muscle imbalances result, placing tension on bone and softer tissues - leading to a misalignment within the lower body. The extra stress on the opposite side of the body will also result in weakness and fatigue of the tissues - increasing the chances they can eventually be injured or gradually degenerate. This is a textbook example of how you get an overcompensation injury. In some cases, physical therapists warn that overcompensation can be very dangerous as it will eventually affect gait or alignment on a permanent basis.

An injury to one achilles can easily lead to straining in other areas, making an overall recovery hard to initiate. The longer the injury (and corresponding pain) persists, the greater the chance that you will sustain more strain from overcompensation, eventually leading to issues in those areas as well. To minimize potential secondary injuries, know that it is important to deal with your achilles heel tendon injury quickly and completely.

Truly, chronic achilles/calcaneal tendon and bursa injuries can become a vicious cycle - which is why it is absolutely critical to focus on healing methods designed to rebuild and strengthen injured soft tissue in a timely manner. The faster you truly heal, the less chance you have of sinking into a downward spiral of re-injury, scar tissue growth and overcompensation injuries.

Okay, So I Have an Achilles Injury...What Should I Do Now?

Stage 1: If the injury is very recent - use a good quality cold pack and Arnica Pain Relief Cream. If the injury has been going on for awhile, then skip to Stage 2 below.

An injured Achilles tendon will receive very little blood flow; this occurs because swelling and inflammatory symptoms restrict that blood flow. Couple that with the fact that your Achilles tendon receives very little blood flow to begin with, and you can start to see why this can be a major problem. In most tendonosis cases, however, the tendon is not inflamed - in such cases the use of cold therapy is relatively ineffective as there is little or no swelling to be dealt with.

If you are experiencing pain and swelling, not only will you use your cold pack for the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury, but you should also use it during other stages of the healing process. Some examples include...

• after any activity that stresses the achilles in a moderate way. It is wise to quickly apply cold therapy to not only reduce the pain, but to also minimize tissue damage that may have occurred during the prior event.
• If you have a job that requires you to place some demands on your injured ankle. If that is the case, use cold therapy immediately following work and if the opportunity allows - use it for 15 to 20 minutes during lunch or another break time.
• If you are in a post-operative situation where cold compression therapy would be utilized heavily for at least the first few weeks following the procedure. Similarly, if you are scheduled for upcoming surgery, then you will need a high quality cold therapy device to use.

Having a Cold Compress or Ice Pack available at home to use if and when the need arises is helpful. Many of you already do so.

However, too many people over-focus on cold therapy while ignoring the most critical aspect to healing - nourishing the injured tissues with a healthy supply of blood flow needed to repair and rebuild injured soft tissue.

This leads to the most important recommendation...

Stage 2: Focus on Increasing Blood Flow To The Injured Tissue - As This is THE Way That Your Body Will Heal For the Long-Term

Even though the concept is simple, improving blood flow to injured tissues can be difficult. When the injury is achilles related, the challenges are even greater. Traditional methods require your muscles and tendons to move to promote blood flow (exercise), but that same motion that promotes blood flow can at times lead to making your pain and condition worse.

• Have you re-injured your achilles by getting back on your feet too quickly?
• How many times in the past have you aggravated your achilles just trying to perform basic tasks around the home?
• Is your debilitated achilles preventing you from work or activities you love to do?

Most people we deal with tell us these scenarios have happened to them many times in the past. Perhaps it has already happened to you.

Promoting blood flow within a muscle or soft tissue injury to help the body heal itself is a concept that has been utilized for centuries. This is where the focus has to be if you are seeking long-term improvement.

Oxygen and nutrients, carried within the blood, are critical for the body to heal itself. Without proper blood flow, recovering from an injury or condition will be delayed...sometimes for a very long period of time.

The real challenge is how do you promote blood flow to the achilles injury site without causing further injury? This goal is further complicated by the fact the achilles (and muscles controlling the ankle joint) are involved every physical movement we perform each day if we are on our feet.

When people think blood flow beyond exercise, they instantly think "heating pad". Unfortunately, many individuals make the mistake in believing that a simple heating pad or microwavable gel packs will provide the blood flow needed to heal injured tissues. Nothing could be further from the truth.

To begin with, heating pads and warmed gel packs work on conduction. The heat they generate has to be forced through multiple layers of skin and fatty tissues. With each layer of skin the heat passes through, there is a corresponding energy loss because that heat is absorbing into each layer it passes through- the skin is an excellent insulator! Your body responds to this heat by increasing the blood flow near your skins surface (not in your injured tissue) to dissipate the heat and it does so quite effectively.

By the time what little heat reaches below the skin, sub-dermal layer and fat layer into the targeted area (the dense, injured tissues), very little energy remains and this does not effectively enhance blood flow. With little blood flow reaching these injured tissues - healing just doesn't happen.

The heating pad may feel comforting when on the body, but that is because the warmth is absorbing into the skin. Moist heat has been believed to be more effective at warming internal tissues versus dry heat, because it is believed that water transfers heat more quickly than through air. Clinical studies do not support that popular belief.

When you are using a heating pad, all that you are really accomplishing is warming of the skin. The unintended consequence is that you draw blood flow AWAY from the targeted tissues (the injured ones deeper in the body) and direct the blood flow to the surface of the body.

So If A Heating Pad Is Not The Answer, What Is?

In order to effectively stimulate blood flow to the dense tissue deep within the body, an energy based on an electromagnetic principle (diathermy) is needed. In essence, this is a conversion energy vs a conductive heat (like the heating pad example above - that is conductive heat).

Electromagnetic energy waves are not conductive heat waves - they are a much longer wavelength and hence, penetrate deep into the body. They are very safe and very effective as research over decades has shown. The F.D.A recognizes this as fact.

When these energy waves are emitted,they penetrate right through your skin and fat layers until they are absorbed by tissue high in protein. This means ligaments, muscles, cartilage, tendons and bone. Once they reach the targeted areas, they are absorbed and quickly converted into thermal energy... right at the location of the injury.

This results in relaxation of the vessel walls. The vessels then gently expand, allowing for more nutrient rich blood flow along with extra oxygen and antibodies to reach the damaged tissues. Plus, the enhanced blood flow helps in flushing cell waste and fluid build-up from the injury site - further enhancing the ability of the body to heal.

As mentioned above, standard heating pads and heated gel packs accomplish the exact opposite of your goals. They direct blood flow to the skin, not to the injured muscles and soft tissues you are trying to heal.

Electromagnetic energy is a form of energy will easily penetrate through clothing, skin, and fatty tissues... directly into your injured muscles and soft tissues within the achilles and ankle. After the energy absorbs into the achilles, the metabolic response then kick starts the repair and rebuilding process.

More blood now begins to flow effectively to the injured tissues deep within the body. The injured tissue needs the extra blood flow to heal as it is through the blood the body carries the oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies needed for proper and long-term healing.

While the concept of electromagnetic energy is slowly catching on in North America, the truth is, it is a technology that has been utilized in other societies for decades. Over the past 30 years, researchers in Japan and China have completed extensive studies on the use of the modality and their findings have been impressive. In addition, success has been reported in studies from countries such as Sweden and Germany.

Research is continuing and soon, much of North America will know what the Far East and Europe has known for a long time; electromagnetic energy provides a wide range of health benefits for those not only suffering from achilles injuries, but for many other soft tissue ailments (plantar fasciitis, bursitis, tendinitis, Tenosynovitis, frozen shoulder, golfer's elbow, tennis elbow, hamstring strain etc.) as well.

Now, on to recommendation number two in the journey to heal your injured achilles...

The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® - Heal Your Achilles For The Long Term

The best option we came across in our research to accomplish true healing of achilles injuries is the Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^®. Use of this device results in a dramatic increase in blood flow to the injured tissues located deeper within the body - all in a non-invasive manner.

Have you seen what happens when you add water to a flower wilted from drought? In essence, your injured achilles is much like a "wilted" flower; your body wants to heal its injury, but needs lots of nutrients to do it. Blood brings new life to your cells by delivering healing nutrients and oxygen that are vital to your tissue. In addition, the blood carries away toxins and cellular waste cleaning the area and healing it faster. Without a good supply of blood, your achilles simply won't heal properly.

Using a T•Shellz Wrap^® will not expose you to the risk of causing further harm to soft tissue like you can when using rigorous exercise. The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® accomplishes the goal of enhanced blood flow without the need for intensive exercise and as such reduces your risk of re-injury.

T•Shellz Wrap^® = Accelerated Healing Power for Your Achilles Injury

The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® is based on the scientifically validated principle of Electromagnetic energy as we discussed previously. This form of treatment is safe and effective as shown in numerous studies which can be referenced through the National Library of Medicine. Professional athletes and those in the medical field have been users of the technology for decades - it really hasn't been until recently that companies like ours introduced the treatment devices to the home user.

Electromagnetic energy from the T•Shellz Wrap^® does not absorb into the skin - it absorbs directly into the damaged muscle and soft tissue (as a result, you will not feel the same level of heat on the skin versus a heating pad). The longer wavelength provides the electromagnetic energy wrap with the capability of penetrating deep into the body (well over two and a half inches).

EM energy emitted from the T•Shellz Wrap^® is absorbed by high protein tissue (muscle, tendon, ligament, cartilage) and is converted into Kinetic energy - much of this energy being released as heat. Overall, EM energy will warm soft tissues, improve blood circulation, and boost metabolism and enzyme activity. In stimulating localized blood flow to damaged soft tissue, you provide needed oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies to regenerate new, healthy collagen. In addition, you will experience a clearing of toxins and excess fluid build up from the injury site. Over the intermediate term, this helps to reduce incidents of swelling as trapped fluids will be whisked away - reducing pressure on blood vessels.

Using the T-Shell Wrap is truly a unique experience. Within moments of applying a treatment to your injured achilles, you can feel the sensation due to the increase in blood flow deep within the area. During a treatment, and for quite some time after you finish, the treated area will feel relaxed and warm. It's a very soothing sensation and extremely effective. This is especially important because the insertion point of the Achilles tendon receives very little blood flow to begin with.

Who Should Use the T•Shellz Wrap^®

We recommend the use of a T•Shellz Wrap^®:

• If you have injured your achilles, lower leg or other soft tissue in the back of your ankle, then you would find the Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® to be a great home treatment tool.
• If you are dealing with conditions affecting your range of motion such as impingement or even arthritis.
• If you have a chronic achilles condition that has lasted for years- this device will help start the rebuilding process and help strengthen the surrounding and supporting tissues. Many of our past clients had suffered for years, then were completely amazed at the results only after a few months of treatments.
• If you are still working with an injured achilles, the T•Shellz Wrap^® will help relax injured soft tissue prior to work and after a day at the job.
• If you are still trying to enjoy your favorite activities such as gardening, tennis, golf, etc - use the T•Shellz Wrap^® prior to activity to help reduce chances of re-injuring or re-aggravating those targeted tissues.
• If you are suffering from bursitis and want to treat the major source of it (secondary damage to the muscle and tendon surrounding the bursa sac). Through overuse or degenerative changes in the lower leg, the muscle and tendons surrounding the bursa sacs will tighten and constrict. When they do, they place pressure on the bursa, causing it to become irritated. Applying a soothing and deep penetrating energy to the achilles relaxes soft tissue and takes pressure off the bursa.
• If you are experiencing atrophy in your lower leg and want to reduce the chance of re-injury - this is a perfect treatment to use on a regular basis.
• If you have been to physical therapy for some form of regenerative therapy and your physical therapist or physician told you to get a radiant energy wrap for your achilles, then this is exactly what you need.
• If you have injured your achilles and need surgery, then this is exactly what you need after your surgery to help the surgically repaired tissues rebuild for long-term health. (once the surgery wound has healed)

T•Shellz Wraps^® contain a unique, flexible Carbon Fiber Energy Pad which is flexible and will shape to conform to your body. This Energy Pad emits a uniform wave of perfectly safe electromagnetic energy over its entire surface. This energy travels deep inside to the soft tissue in your muscles and ankle joint, stimulating blood flow your own body needs to heal your injury. It is the electromagnetic energy that is crucial to the healing process.

Best of all...

The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^®, is an FDA Registered Medical Device and is suitable for use at home. It is completely safe for people and patients to use for themselves.

As mentioned earlier, the use of electromagnetic energy is becoming much more commonplace in North America for everyday people. The technology has been used for decades in the worlds of professional and amateur sport - a contributing factor as to why athletes seem to recover from injuries so quickly.

Have you ever wondered by an athlete can return to activity after 3 or 5 weeks following an achilles injury - while your average person takes much longer to return back to normal? The secret isn't really that much of a secret - it involves consistent treatments (meaning multiple times a day) using a diathermy treatment like the T•Shellz Wrap^® to stimulate blood flow to injured soft tissue. Often, athletes have the luxury of using in-house therapy facilities many times per day.

How many us can afford the time and money to visit a therapy clinic multiple times a day? Very few indeed. This is how you can gain the same advantage that athletes enjoy in healing their own injuries - by using a device like the Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® two or three times a day on a consistent basis.

What Else Makes the Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® So Special?

We believe the T•Shellz Wrap^® to be one of the most effective treatments to stimulate blood flow to dense, injured tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other similar tissues.

We can promise that you will receive a product that is designed to be safe and does what it is supposed to do...quickly relieve pain and aid in the recovery from tendon, muscle and other soft tissue injuries.

The unit plugs into a standard wall outlet to get its power. The nice thing about the power supply is that the same unit can be used in North America and overseas as well. It has the capability to operate between 110v and 230v.

It has a special signal controller that can be set for 3 different power levels of application (3=High, 2=Medium, 1=Low). The cord is long so you can sit or lie comfortably and watch TV, read or surf the net while you're using it.

Treatments are max 30 minutes in duration and the device can be worn over clothing. This allows you to use the device at work, at home, or really anywhere you have access to an electrical outlet.

A Recap of the Benefits of the T•Shellz Wrap^®..

• Targeted treatment of Muscle Strain, Tendonitis, tendonosis, Bursitis, Impingement, Arthritis, etc
• It can be used before exercise to warm up your achilles to reduce the risk of injury
• FDA Registered medical device for use in the home - very high quality
• Greatly enhances healing of tendons, ligaments, and muscles
• Increases flexibility of tissues (reducing the re-injury factor)
• Carbon fiber Energy Pad is strong, lightweight, and flexible - contours very easily
• It provides an accelerated healing rate that will save time and money when associated with missed work or extended therapist visits
• it is an outstanding tool for post-surgery rehabilitation, getting you back to work faster

The most common question we receive from individuals prior to purchasing is - how many times a day should I be using my T•Shellz Wraps^® and when should I be using them? While treatment plans will differ for each individual and their specific injury, there are general guidelines that should be adhered to.

• Use a Cold Compress or Ice Pack when you are experiencing inflammation (usually after exertion or movement of the injury area).

The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® would then be used:

• Right after rising from bed in the morning (as this is when it is most stiff)
• Prior to going to bed at night (to relax the achilles, allowing for better sleep)
• Before you know you will be using your injured joint (going to work, driving, running, walking, etc).

Stage 3 - In Between Treatments With T•Shellz Wrap^®, Apply Our New Fast Acting Pain Relief Cream Called ARNICA INFUSION

Dealing with aches and pains affecting the foot, ankle, leg, knee, hamstring, hip, back, arm, shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand? If so, then applying the Arnica Infusion to any of these targeted areas will bring about fast relief from the pain and sore tissues. Simply apply a small amount of cream to the body and moments later, you will experience a soothing and comforting sensation over the area.

Arnica Infusion is specially designed to relieve pain due to sore muscles and joints associated with arthritis, backaches, sprains, strains, and bruises. No matter if you are dealing with an acute injury, chronic pain, or a general "flare-up" - you will experience fast relief from pain and inflammation.

This is a product that many of our current MendMeShop customers asked us to develop. So we focused our time and resources over the past few years and came up with what we believe will be one of more effective, fast acting, topical pain relief creams on the market.

You are likely familiar with some of the standard topical agents on the market as most of our customers use them. The are mass marketed and even found in most department stores now.

Well, we are here to say that Arnica Infusion goes many steps beyond what they offer.

Made in the USA at an FDA registered manufacturing facility, you can be assured that Arnica Infusion is both safe and effective. Only exceptional grade ingredients are sourced while implementing strict quality control checks during every step of the production process. Expect the same high quality that MendMeShop customers have been accustomed to since we started the company in 2005

The "Cool Blue" formula is the perfect balance between the smooth application of a cream and the effective absorbing factor of a gel. It is not too thick and not too thin - just the right texture. Best of all, it feels very nice on the skin!

Each application of Arnica Infusion feels so comforting and soothing, we are certain it will become an item you will not want to live without.

Arnica Infusion Ingredients

The Arnica Infusion formula is based on a combination of scientific research and the use of high quality ingredients. The properties within the formula were chosen for their pain relief, anti-inflammatory, and soothing qualities.

The acting ingredients within the formula include ones many of us are familiar with; along with ones that have not received a lot of publicity (only in research circles). Extensive testing resulted in a blending of ingredients that provides the most synergistic of benefits.

The notable ingredients in the Arnica Infusion formula include:

• Arnica - powerful anti-inflammatory, speeds recovery, enhances circulation
• Menthol - provides deep penetrating pain relief with a nice cooling sensation
• Vitamin B6 - promotes normal nerve function
• MSM - supports healthy connective tissues, anti-inflammatory
• Ilex Leaf Extract - increases circulation, skin conditioner
• Vitamin E - anti-inflammatory, enhances circulation, hydrates the skin
• Aloe - anti-inflammatory properties, soothes the skin
• Tea Tree - enhances penetration of ingredients

Extensive quality control procedures during the manufacturing process ensure the ingredients and final product are both safe and effective. We would not stake our reputation on anything but the best.

When Do I Apply the Arnica Infusion?

While At Work

Apply Arnica Infusion at work to help reduce acute discomfort associated with overuse of muscles and joints. No matter if you are in a physical demanding job or work within an office environment, you will be placing stress on different parts of the body and aches and pains will result.

Before Or After Work, Sports, & Activity

If you suffer from a sprained ligament, pulled muscle, strained tendon, or even bruising - apply Arnica Infusion for quick relief of the pain.

Chronic Pain Suffering

Application of Arnica Infusion can be done up to a maximum of 4 times per day on a consistent basis to help bring about relief from various pains and aches.

In-between Treatments With the T•Shellz Wraps^®

Follow up your T•Shellz and cold therapy treatments with an application of Arnica Infusion. Combine the pain relieving benefits of Arnica Infusion along with the healing benefits of the wraps to make your recovery go much more smoothly.

Do not apply Arnica Infusion within a 2 hour timespan before a T•Shellz Wrap^® treatment.

Whether you decide to use the Arnica Infusion in conjunction with the T-Shell and other treatments - or if you decide to use the cream as a stand-alone product - you will not be disappointed with the results. We guarantee it.

A Note On OverCompensation

Since you are reading this, you probably know that serious achilles and lower leg injuries do not just disappear. Over time, it will wreak havoc on your knees, ankles and lower back due to lack of movement, over-compensation and a change in gait. It will also wreak havoc on your opposite hip side, due to overcompensation. Recovery takes a longer time for such chronic (long term) injuries, but proper healing is essential to regain strength and get you back to the activities you enjoy.

Everything in the human body is connected. An Achilles tendon injury and/or achilles bursitis can lead to other injuries over time if not treated properly. For example, the foot of your injured leg may start hurting. On-going pain in this area could potentially result in plantar fasciitis.

You may also over-strain your Achilles tendon, knee and/or hip in your opposite, healthy leg because you will automatically put more weight on your non-injured side to cope with everyday activities. When you experience pain on the opposite side of your body, this is something called "over compensation" pain.

Over time you may also change the way that you walk when your achilles is hurting. If you change the way that you walk, how you get in and out of a car or even the way you climb a flight of stairs you may irritate your lower back. Usually achilles bursitis injury will happen to your dominant leg (if you are right handed, this would be your right leg). When this happens there is a higher risk that you will over-strain your weaker leg that is compensating for your injury.

The longer your injury endures, the greater the risk of running into serious overcompensation injuries and a permanent change in gait.

To Stop Re-Injury & Reduce the Risk of a More Serious Overcompensation Injury, You Need to Heal Quickly & Completely!

Anyone in need of rapid recovery and complete healing must consider a comprehensive treatment plan that includes an effective means to minimize swelling and inflammation yet also stimulate healing and tissue elasticity. We have found no better set of tools that can be used at home than this:

Conservative treatment tools just like these have been used successfully by thousands of achilles injury sufferers - just like you.

We believe the use of T•Shellz Wraps^® for effective treatment of soft tissue achilles injuries is one of the most under-utilized home treatment options available on the market today. We have thousands of customers that have tried many options out there and have been amazed at how effective and fast the TShellz Wrap treatment can heal soft tissue injuries.

With regular use of the Achilles TShellz Wrap:

• Your pain will be reduced. ("Therapeutic Heat and Cold", 4th edition. - Ed. Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin)
• Your injury will heal at an accelerated rate (due to enhanced blood circulation) with reduced potential for re-injury*.
• Soft tissue in the treatment area will have a enhanced range of motion and increased extensibility of collagen tissue. (Chapter 9 of "Therapeutic Heat and Cold", 4th edition. amazon.com link - Ed. Justus F. Lehmann, M.D., Williams, and Wilkin)

*Know that every personal soft tissue injury is unique and the TShellz Wrap may not work for everyone. This is why we offer a 60-day money back return on all our TShellz Wrap devices.

Would you know you injured yourself if there was no pain? Probably not! Pain and swelling perform a useful role in letting you know that you did, in fact, injure yourself. Pain and swelling are what get you to seek out medical attention in the hopes of finding a way to reduce the pain and heal your injury.

We all know that if the injury was healed, the pain would go away but what about the opposite situation? If the pain is gone, does that mean the injury is better? Unfortunately, this is not always true.

Cold gets rid of swelling and often much of the pain. Keep in mind, however, an injury is not healed just because the pain is gone - this is why the pain and swelling returns after you start using your achilles again! You need to keep treating your achilles with an Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® until it is healed.

On-going STR Therapy treatments at home, every day, will soothe, relax and promote healing of your damaged Achilles tendon tissue. STR Therapy treatments on your Achilles tendon will allow your soft tissue to extend further when you do some stretching after the treatment. In a nutshell, consistent STR Therapy treatments combined with light stretching will elongate your Achilles tendon and increase its elasticity, essentially boosting the recovery of your injured Achilles.

Part of your process to recover from your Achilles tendon injury is gently re-introducing activity and stretching into your daily life. It's important to keep your Achilles tendon moving to reduce the amount of scar tissue that forms and increase (or eventually maintain) your flexibility/mobility.

When used in combination with mild stretching (and an ice pack when the swelling flares up), the Achilles TShellz Wrap provides the necessary treatments to enhance the blood flow to your injury and allow you to maintain and even improve the elasticity & length of the Achilles tendon.

If you have an achilles injury or lower leg soft tissue injury you can heal quickly if you treat your injury correctly. That means talking with your physician about using the right therapies every single day. I will now explain to you exactly why these therapies are critical for properly addressing a soft tissue tendon or muscle injury. Learning about this therapy system is essential. Once you have read more, you will understand that we have the unique ability to provide you with the best treatment options available to you at home. In fact, EM Energy products like ours are currently being used in many doctors and therapist clinics - they are just that good!

The Achilles TShellz Wrap is intended for superior treatment of:

Regular treatments with an Achilles TShellz Wrap can reduce stiffness due to the deep heat effect and increase overall flexibility of your Achilles tendon. Increased blood flow will whisk away damaged tissue, toxins and bacteria in the area to promote more effective healing. Getting rid of toxins will allow all of the positive healing processes to start in your Achilles tendon. Increasing blood flow will also increase the amount of oxygen that is being sent to your Achilles tendon AND boost your tendon's ability to absorb oxygen. (reference: 1)

Surgery, Post-Surgery Rehabilitation and Achilles Tendon Exercises

If you have undergone surgery or your achilles (reattachment, repair or graft) and are looking for rehabilitation information, click here.

Increasing flexibility and strength in the ankle is a key component to speed healing and avoid re-injury. For this reason, we have created ebooks that outline specific exercises / stretches for our clients undergoing achilles injury recovery.

Even when you're injured and in pain you need to keep moving to break-up scar tissue that's forming in your tendons and ligaments in your ankle and calf.

Moving when you're injured is hard. Since moving while injured can be painful most people think it's better to stop moving, rest their foot and hope that their achilles injury will heal all on its' own. Even though rest is important to recovery, too much rest during the recovery process will increase the amount of scar tissue in your lower leg.

STR Therapy treatments combined with a proper stretching regimen will help decrease scar tissue growth while increasing elasticity and strength in the lower leg and ankle joint.

During the healing process your body will fill in soft tissue tears with dense, brittle tissue called "scar tissue". The human body will use scar tissue as a temporary solution and will try to build the scar tissue as fast as possible to heal a tears in the soft tissue. Scar tissue can form fast to bring together the edges of a tear, but working fast doesn't mean that the job's done right. When scar tissue forms it doesn't come together as neatly as regular (healthy) tendon/ligament tissue would. Scar tissue fibers will lay down over top of your tear in a cluttered, messy and jumbled up way.

Ankle Joint Atrophy is arguably a bigger issue than scar tissue. Whether you have a ankle/lower leg injury or have recently had an operation in that area, you will find that the joint has a more limited range of motion than you had before. In most cases, this is due to atrophy - the shortening of connective tissue in the lower leg, knee and ankle due to inactivity. In cases where atrophy exists, it is very important to stretch and do gentle exercise to nip this problem in the bud before it becomes a chronic (long-lasting) issue. If you are currently recovering from a Achilles injury speak with your physician about stretches and exercise.

When done properly under recommendation of a physician, stretches have a proven track record of assisting in the speedy recovery of many patients. This is without doubt, the final essential tool for complete achilles/ankle injury recovery. Once a patient deals with the swelling and inflammation through use of a Cold Compress or Ice Pack, then begins the STR Therapy process by using home treatment with the TShellz Wrap, all the while keeping rested to keep stress off the injury. Once the injury has healed, it is time to take the third and final step to recovery by beginning a rehabilitation stretching regimen.

Before making the transition to crutches, physical therapists prescribe gentle stretching of an injured achilles, especially if your are recovering from achilles reattachment surgery. They don't prescribe this to annoy you - it is in fact the most important part of injury recovery. You probably know of someone that chose not to do these stretches as it is common - and they paid a high price for it. By not listening to the therapist (ie. not stretching), there is a huge chance of re-injury or even sustaining an injury greater than the original injury ever was.

Consistent stretching (as prescribed by your physician or PT) not only helps minimize the growth of scar tissue, but it also increases the elasticity and strength of the achilles tendon and interconnected soft tissue. Stretching, when used in conjunction with the Achilles TShellz Wrap will allow you to be better prepared to handle higher and higher loads. Eventually you will reach a stage where your tendon can handle standing or walking for longer and longer periods of time. This is the final stage of recovery and depending on age, the nature of the injury, your weight and many other factors, it can take the longest time to complete. But remember, for achilles injuries, it pays to be patient! Rushing your tendon injury recovery almost never pays.

In examining thousands of pages of research, we can conclude that the T•Shellz Wrap^® energy will produce the following results:

This, in turn, improves white blood cell function which increases the body's ability to eliminate toxins and other cellular waste by-products resulting from damaged tissue within the achilles. This allows the achilles to more easily stimulate the self healing process.

Many heel, ankle and lower leg injuries are the result of trauma to a tendon or muscle, usually causing the tissue to tear. As a result of the tear, your body triggers a natural healing process resulting in pain, inflammation, and the creation of scar tissue. This process has 3 steps; getting rid of cellular waste while repairing damaged cells (inflammation), fixing the torn tissue with a "band-aid" solution (remodeling), and reinforcing that band-aid solution with flexible tissue (proliferation).

You can speed your recovery while decreasing any risk of re-injuring the tissue by enhancing your body's own natural process of "tissue regeneration". Once inflammation has been reduced, scar tissue begins to form to repair the torn tissue. Scar tissue is much faster to build than flexible tissue, but it can only repair the torn tissue temporarily. Left untreated, the scar tissue provides little flexibility increasing the risk of re-injury.

This is a very important point. Many people with ankle conditions often re-injure the area due to the fact the damaged muscle or soft tissue is tight and the range of motion of the ankle is restricted. Even the most minor of activities can cause a recovering achilles to strain, sprain, or even tear. Every time this happens, your recovery is delayed. This is why using the T•Shellz Wrap^® not only now, but also into the future, is wise. The energy emitted from the T•Shellz Wrap^® is absorbed by the deep tissue, gently warming it, thereby increasing the elasticity...all without risk of causing further harm and greatly reducing your chances of re-injury.

Electromagnetic energy, the technology the T•Shellz Wrap^® is based on, has been shown to reduce pain sensation by direct action on the sciatic nerve - slowing the velocity of pain signals that travel up and down the nerve. In addition, electromagnetic energy applied to muscles and soft tissue that surround the sciatic nerve will help them become more loose, alleviating the tightness which usually leads to nerve compression and the subsequent pain it produces.

Overall, you will get the benefits of a stronger immune system and a faster ability to heal muscle and soft tissue injuries such as sprains, strains, and tissue tears. Use the T•Shellz Wrap^® before activity to prevent further injury, before bed to prevent tightness from setting in during the night, and again in the morning to make your tired body come alive.

Believe me when I say this; words alone cannot accurately describe what the T•Shellz Wrap^® can do for you. It truly is something you need to experience first-hand.

Doctors and Surgeons are always improving the techniques used in surgery, and results from surgery now are much more positive than they were in the past. However, all surgeries introduce scar tissue, and recovery from surgery is better than ever but often disappointing when it comes to full recovery expectations.

If you do wind up getting surgery, know that rehabilitation at-home while attending regular physical therapy or doctor appointments is vital for your overall recovery.

Consistent exercise and conservative treatment on a daily basis during your rehabilitation while working with your doctor or physical therapist is key. This is why you should seriously consider maximizing your recovery by using the T•Shellz Wrap^® at home once you are approved for physical therapy.

The more consistent you work at enhancing blood flow to surgically repaired soft tissue, the more consistent the healing process will be. Nourishing the tissues will more oxygen and nutrients (which are carried through the blood stream) will give the body a better ability to produce new, healthy collagen. In effect, you will help the body produce stronger tissues while potentially reducing the number of setbacks that can occur following surgical procedures.

Click HERE to Go To Our Online Store We take all major credit cards and Paypal.
If you have questions, call our office at 1-866-237-9608 (toll free continental US).
We are currently offering FREE SHIPPING and a 60 day trial period on all our Wraps.

The Key Point To Keep in Mind When Treating Your Injury

Make Sure That Complete Healing is Your #1 Goal

We all know that if the injury was healed, the pain would go away but what about the opposite situation? If the pain is gone, does that mean the injury is better? Unfortunately, this is not always true.

Too many people only focus on suppressing pain symptoms while providing less attention to the true healing aspects of the body. Experiencing less pain, while obviously a good short-term goal, never equates to underlying healing. Scar tissue can remain for months after one gets to a point of being relatively pain-free. However, as long the weak and brittle scar tissue remains, you are susceptible to re-injury or re-aggravation. Certain motions or movements can cause the weaker tissue to easily tear - resulting in some reversal of the recovery up until that point.

This is why we recommend for people to continue with their doctor or therapist recommended exercises and to continue with mild treatments of the T•Shellz Wrap^® for a period of time - to better ensure complete healing.

Ongoing treatments to enhance circulation will soothe, relax and promote healing of your damaged lower leg muscles and tendons. Achilles T•Shellz treatments will also allow your soft tissue to extend further due to the deep warming sensation created by the enhanced circulation to the treatment area. The more extensible your tissues are, the less likely they are to strain or sprain.

The Achilles T•Shellz Wrap^® is a highly effective therapy tool for people suffering from soft tissue injuries in the lower leg and ankle - such as a tear in your muscle, tendon or other soft tissue, strain, Tendonitis, tendinopathy, tendonosis, impingements, instability, calf muscle spasms, bursitis, capsulitis, pain associated with trigger points, scar tissue, and arthritis.

To really deal with a injury, you have to know the injury is - so get to the doctor and make sure you know what the issue is.

People tell us all the time, "I was told that if I stay off my feet for a few weeks, my pain will disappear for good."

The truth is, pain is usually a culmination of numerous factors, which include repetitive stress and overcompensation issues resulting from other muscle and soft tissue ailments.

It may take weeks or months for these pain triggers to surface, but when they do, merely resting will not solve the underlying issues. You need to utilize options that actually treat the source of the pain and help reverse the damage that has been done.

Resting has a role to play, but it is only one small factor in a recovery plan.

Let me tell you, we appreciate all the feedback we have received over the years. We have had many medical professionals, athletes and everyday people call and write to tell us about their positive experiences with our devices and the company in general. It never gets old hearing about the successes and it provides us with the motivation to continue doing what we do best - provide individuals with options to heal from the comfort of their own home.

Below is a small sample of some of the Customer Service comments we have received from customers...

If you're tired of being told that resting, drugs and surgery are the only answers to your achilles injury.... Be optimistic, because there are effective alternatives for you.

We will never claim our products will work for everyone. That is simply impossible to achieve. Everyone has a different capacity for healing and different circumstances behind their injuries and/or conditions.

In addition, some people may have a hard time sticking with recommended protocol in order to achieve benefits from our devices. Quite simply, our clients that have had successful outcomes have made a small effort to invest 60 minutes a day into the program. If you do the same, chances are you will be very happy with the outcome.

We have helped thousands of clients since 2006 and since the introduction of our T•Shellz Wraps^®, our refund rate has been very low - currently running consistently below 5%.

That means that for every 100 people who try our products, 95 of these individuals are happy with the results these products provide. Odds are certainly in your favor that you too will achieve a happy outcome. This fact alone speaks volumes to the effectiveness of our solutions and with a full 60 day money back guarantee on our wraps, there really is no risk in trying.

Right after you place an order, email us and we will have a plan developed immediately so you will be able to get started upon arrival of your parcel. We can't promise you miraculous results, however, we do promise to do everything we can to help you with your condition.

Everything you have read up to now has hopefully given you some hope.

However, words are meaningless unless a company stands strongly behind the products they sell. This is what sets us apart from others...we offer people a comprehensive, 60 day, full 100% money back guarantee. We take on all of the risk because we know our products work well for the overwhelming majority of people who purchase them.

We Will Support You Every Step of the Way

You are never alone when making a purchase from us. When we say we stand behind our products, we truly mean it!

If any question or concern arises, simply send us an email at any time (we check our emails constantly all throughout the day and night - even on holidays!). We will respond as soon as possible.

Click HERE to Go To Our Online Store If you have questions, call our office at 1-866-237-9608 (toll free continental US).

Simply call toll free 1-866-237-9608 to place an order with one of our knowledgeable Product Advisers. They have the ability to answer all your questions...ensuring you only receive the products you need.

Product Advisors are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday to Friday.

North America Toll Free 1-866-237-9608

Outside North America +1-705-532-1671

We Stand Behind All Our Promises With An Iron-Clad Guarantee

• Guarantee #1

  Use your products diligently for up to 60 days and you will experience a significant reduction in pain. If not, I encourage you to send back the items for a no-hassle 100% refund.

• Guarantee #2

  You will not be left in the dark after purchasing any product from us. AidMyBursa Advisors and Product Specialists are available 7 days a week by toll free phone or email to answer your questions or concerns.

• Guarantee #3

  Your order is guaranteed to be shipped within 24 hours on every business day.

• Guarantee #4

  All purchases receive a one year, full replacement warranty with guaranteed, prompt service.

• Guarantee #5

  You could save hundreds of dollars and possibly more, by utilizing our products, and getting back to work sooner.

• Guarantee #6

  Everything You Read on this Site is Absolutely True. Unlike us, companies not registered by the FDA can state anything they want about their products. Because we are FDA registered, you can rest assured that these products do exactly what we say they do.

Overall, we are able to be cost effective and value oriented due to two major reasons:

1. Word is spreading and as a result, our sales are increasing. With this increase, we can achieve economies of scale...meaning we receive the best component pricing because our volume is high.


2. We keep our overhead costs low by selling only on-line versus setting up costly distribution channels offline.

Think about it – you can now have the ability to treat your pain from the comfort of your own home while saving money in the process.

Best of all, you are fully protected when making a purchase from us as we offer a no-hassle 60 day, full money back guarantee.

Living with pain is never easy as it affects your entire lifestyle. Nothing is more important than making the proper decision when it comes to treating your muscle injury. Most methods only mask the problems or provide temporary relief; they do not treat the pain at its source.

AidMyBursa stands out in this regard as our goal is to help you heal for the longer-term.

The bottom line is, you are welcome to try our products for a full 2 months. If you do not receive the benefits that others have experienced, simply return your purchase back to us and we will issue a prompt & full refund. There will be no hard feelings.

The fastest option you have to get our product into your hands as soon as possible is by placing your order online - at this very moment..

Or, Call Our Office. We are open Monday to Friday to allow you place an order over the phone. Simply call toll free 1-866-237-9608 to place an order with one of our knowledgeable Product Advisors. They have the ability to answer all your questions...ensuring you only receive the products you need.

If you choose to order through our online shop, know that we keep no credit card data on file. Once the transaction is completed, the credit information disappears from our internal systems.

As you can see, ordering from us is a very easy and safe process, no matter if choosing to order on-line or over the phone.

Are you still unsure about placing an order? let me address some questions that may causing some hesitation...

What is the success rate of the Achilles T•Shellz Wraps^®? Do they really work?

The short answer is - yes, the T•Shellz Wraps^® are very effective at healing muscle and soft tissue injuries. We try and keep in touch with a large percentage of our customers, and we encourage them to do the same. In doing so, we have received a lot of feedback as we have sold Electromagnetic Devices since 2008.

We can say that the return rate on our products is only around 5% any given month. That is exceptional by anyone's standards. Therefore, we can safely indicate that the overwhelming majority of people who purchase from us do achieve benefits with our products.

What is the difference between the T•Shellz Wrap^® and a standard heating pad?

The differences between the T•Shellz Wrap^® and heating pads, moist gel packs, etc - is a night and day comparison. There is nothing that compares to the healing capacity of the T•Shellz technology.

To begin with, heating pads and the like work on conduction. The heat has to be forced through multiple layers of skin and fatty tissues. With each layer of skin the heat passes through, there is a corresponding energy loss because that heat is absorbing into each layer it passes through. By the time the heat reaches the targeted area, very little energy is remaining and this does not effectively enhance blood flow. Without the enhanced blood flow effect to the injured tissues - healing just won't happen.

The heating pad may feel good when on the body, but that is because you are merely heating the skin. Moist heat has been believed to be more effective at warming internal tissues versus dry heat, because it is believed that water transfers heat more quickly than through air. Clinical studies do not support the popular belief.

In comparison... The T•Shellz Wrap^® is based on the scientifically validated principle of Electromagnetic energy. This form of treatment is safe and effective as shown in numerous studies which can be referenced through the National Library of Medicine.

The energy from the T•Shellz Wrap^® ultimately will gently warm deep tissue, improve blood circulation, and boost metabolism and enzyme activity. This is why it works so well - because the body responds very well to this form energy. In stimulating blood flow to the damaged tissue, you provide the tissue with the oxygen, nutrients, and antibodies it needs to regenerate new, healthy collagen. In addition, you will experience a clearing of toxins and excess fluid build up from the injury site. Over the intermediate term, this helps to reduce incidents of swelling as trapped fluids will be whisked away - reducing pressure on vessels.

How much time do I need to dedicate for treatments? Are the products easy to use?

The T•Shellz Wraps^® are very easy devices to use. After one or two uses, you will engage in the treatments with ease. Very detailed instructions are included and you are always welcome to contact us by phone or email if the need for help arises.

In regards to the T•Shellz Wrap^®, it is ideal to use the device two or three times a day on average. Each treatment session is a maximum of 20 minutes in duration and the device will turn off automatically at that time. Typically, people use the T•Shellz Wrap^® before bed, upon awakening (or not long after) and one other time during the day when the opportunity presents itself. For people in an office setting, many will use the device at work (as it can be worn over clothing). For others, they will use the device an our or two after work.

A Cold Compress or Ice Pack is primarily used following activity that stresses the injured tissues (following work, after a sports activity, or just suffering a general re-injury). This is done to reduce inflammation and to minimize tissue damage. Treatments are 15 to 20 minutes in duration.

How long has MendMeShop been in business

We established our firm in December of 2005. Our track record in this field continues to grow and we plan on being around for many decades to come.

What is your return policy? Is it the standard 30 days?

We go above and beyond what other companies offer - we offer a full 60 day money back guarantee with no restocking fees.

AidMyBursa advisors do not work on commission, so be assured you will only receive fair and objective information.

Product Advisors are available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern Standard Time Monday to Friday.

I want to learn more about Post-Surgery Recovery

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During your recovery, you will probably have to modify and/or eliminate any activities that cause pain or discomfort at the location of your soft tissue injury until the pain and inflammation settle. Always consult your doctor and/or Physical Therapist before using any of our outstanding products, to make sure they are right for you and your condition. The more diligent you are with your treatment and rehabilitation, the faster you will see successful results!