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Typical injuries: how they are treated
Achilles tendinopathy
Pain and thickening of the tendon above the heel, morning stiffness. The basis of treatment is a calf strengthening programme for 12 weeks or longer.
Plantar fasciitis
Heel pain with the first steps in the morning. Stretching, footwear and insoles help; for chronic pain, shockwave therapy.
Runner’s knee
Pain on the outside of the knee (iliotibial band syndrome) or under the kneecap. Treated by reducing running volume and strengthening the hip and thigh muscles.
Bone stress reactions
Pain in the tibia or metatarsals; MRI shows bone oedema without a fracture line. Offloading for several weeks and finding the cause are needed.
Returning to activity: key principles
Recovery after the procedure
On the day of the injection you can walk and return to your hotel on your own. Intense load on the joint is best avoided for 1–2 days; ice helps with swelling. Then you gradually return to normal activity and exercise. The effect is assessed after 6–12 weeks; if there is no improvement, the clinic physician revises the plan.
No running at first
In the acute phase: walking, swimming and stationary cycling if pain-free; strength exercises for the core and legs.
Run/walk intervals
The return starts with alternating running and walking on soft surfaces; volume increases by no more than 10% a week.
Cause of the injury
Check your training plan, footwear, technique and nutrition: common mistakes are a sudden increase in volume, insufficient recovery and low energy availability.
Clinic and method matching — free of charge
Describe your case and attach your MRI report. We will identify clinics that use the relevant methods and forward your request to them. No obligation; we reply within 24 hours.
Send a requestWhen surgery is needed
Surgery is discussed if conservative and injection treatment has not helped for 3–6 months, with advanced joint destruction, a complete tendon or ligament tear with loss of function, or neurological problems such as increasing weakness, numbness or bladder and bowel dysfunction. The clinic physician decides based on the images and examination; we can arrange a surgeon’s consultation.
Who it is not suitable for and possible risks
Contraindications
- Active infection — at the injection site or systemic, with fever.
- Active cancer or ongoing chemotherapy.
- Blood clotting disorders or a low platelet count. Anticoagulants are discussed with the physician.
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding — the procedure is usually postponed.
- A corticosteroid injection into the same area in recent weeks.
- A complete tendon or ligament rupture with loss of function — surgical repair is usually needed.
Possible risks
- Pain and swelling at the injection site for 1–3 days.
- Bruising where blood or fat tissue is taken.
- Rarely, infection. The procedure is therefore performed under sterile conditions with ultrasound or X-ray guidance.
- The effect may be absent or smaller than expected.
If any of these apply to you, mention it in your request. The coordinator will check with the clinic physician whether treatment is possible. Contact a coordinator.
Scientific evidence
Studies of regenerative methods show mixed results. Clinic physicians rely on research including the following:
- Andia I et al. Platelet-rich plasma for muscle injury and tendinopathy. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev, 2013.
- Sheth U et al. Efficacy of autologous platelet-rich plasma use for orthopaedic indications: a meta-analysis. J Bone Joint Surg Am, 2012.
Next steps: Treatment methods · Treatment cost · How treatment in Germany is organised
Questions
Almost all the typical ones: Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee, patellar tendinopathy and bone stress reactions. The basis is load management and strength exercise; shockwave therapy and injections help some patients with chronic pain.
It depends on the diagnosis: with tendinopathy and fasciitis, once walking and hopping on the spot are pain-free, usually after several weeks or months; after a stress fracture, not before 6–8 weeks of offloading. Start with run/walk intervals and increase volume gradually.
PRP injections have not been on the WADA prohibited list since 2011. For other cell products and any medication, check the current WADA list and agree the treatment with the team physician before the procedure — a therapeutic use exemption is obtained if needed.
According to observational studies, moderate running does not speed up knee osteoarthritis in most people if it does not increase pain and swelling. Weight loss, thigh strengthening, soft surfaces and suitable shoes help. With marked pain, running is better replaced by cycling or swimming.
RegenPAS is a patient service centre in Munich, not a clinic. We review your images and symptoms and send a request to several partner clinics at once. Clinics that can accept you send their own conditions and price; prices differ between clinics, and you choose the option that suits you. The coordinator replies within 24 hours, and a clinic physician’s preliminary opinion follows in 1–3 business days. We then arrange the appointment, visa invitation, interpreter, transfers and accommodation. Treatment decisions are made by the clinic physician. Contact a coordinator.
Your MRI (or CT, X-ray) report and the images if you have them, plus a short description of your symptoms and previous treatment. Send them via the form on the website — the assessment is free and without obligation: the coordinator replies within 24 hours, and the clinic physician’s preliminary opinion follows in 1–3 business days.
The cost depends on the method, the diagnostics needed and the clinic itself: prices differ between clinics. We request offers from several clinics and send you their conditions and quotes so you can compare. Price guidance is on the treatment cost page. For an outpatient procedure, 2–3 days in Munich are usually enough: examination, procedure and follow-up visit.