Achilles Tendinitis

The initial consultation process proceeds in the following order: ① Medical history interview (pain location, duration, and aggravating factors), ② Physical examination (tenderness points and functional evaluation), and ③ Ultrasound examination (confirmation of tendon thickness, degeneration, and rupture). Based on the examination results, the condition is classified as acute tendinitis or chronic tendinopathy, and the intensity of treatment is determined. Acute Korean medicine treatment proceeds in the order of acupuncture (stimulation of pain-prone acupoints) → pharmacopuncture (injection of anti-inflammatory components) → cupping and taping, while moxibustion is applied after acute swelling has subsided. The acute phase is the period when pain caused by blocked energy and blood circulation is most pronounced; therefore, the key is to open up blocked circulation by inserting needles into key points around the ankle and heel. If stagnant blood is accompanied by heat, pharmacopuncture is selected to reduce heat and promote blood circulation. At Dongjedang, we show the condition directly via ultrasound on the day of the initial consultation and establish a treatment roadmap (Stages 1, 2, and 3) together with the patient to clearly share treatment goals and expectations.