Dr. Paul Tortland, DO is a non-surgical orthopedic & sports medicine physician specializing in regenerative orthopedics and surgical alternative treatment. He is dual board-certified in Sports Medicine & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Regenerative Medicine, Fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine. He became the first physician in the world to earn board certification in Regenerative Medicine in 2015. Diplomate, American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM), 2015. Registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (RMSK).
Last clinically reviewed
October 2026
Quick answer
Dr. Paul Tortland, DO, is a dual board certified non-surgical orthopedic and sports medicine physician in Glastonbury, CT. He finds the cause of foot, ankle and Achilles pain with live ultrasound and treats tendon and joint problems with targeted injections and regenerative options, so many patients avoid or delay surgery.
Treatments: non-surgical care built on an exact diagnosis. Options include hydrodissection, prolotherapy and Prolozone, and regenerative treatments such as PRP, BMAC and MFAT for tendon and joint problems.
Who it fits: people with Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, ankle sprains or arthritis who want to try something before surgery. A complete Achilles rupture or unstable fracture gets a surgeon referral.
What is different: 30+ years in practice, UConn Associate Clinical Professor, U.S. Figure Skating team physician since 2003, and Dr. Tortland performs every evaluation and injection himself. About Dr. Tortland.
Achilles, Foot and Ankle Conditions Treated in Glastonbury, CT
The Achilles, foot, and ankle conditions seen most often in this practice, treated without surgery whenever the evidence and the ultrasound findings support it.
Comparison
How Non-Surgical Foot and Ankle Care Compares With Other Treatments
Option
What it does
Duration of benefit
Tissue impact
OptionHyaluronic acid (gel)
What it doesUsed selectively for arthritic ankle and foot joints, guided by ultrasound.
Duration of benefitVaries by person.
Tissue impactDoes not rebuild cartilage.
OptionProlotherapy or Prolozone
What it doesTargets loose ligaments and irritated tendon attachments in the ankle, heel and foot.
Duration of benefitBuilds over a series of visits.
Tissue impactAims to support ligament and tendon healing.
What it doesConcentrates your own platelets and places them in the damaged tendon or fascia under ultrasound, as in Achilles tendinopathy and plantar fasciitis.
Duration of benefitOften 6 to 12 months or more in responders.
Tissue impactSupports repair signals rather than masking pain.
What it doesUltrasound-guided fluid placed to free irritated or entrapped nerves, as in tarsal tunnel or nerve pain around the ankle.
Duration of benefitVaries by person and cause.
Tissue impactRelieves pressure on the nerve without cutting tissue.
OptionSurgery
What it doesRemoves or replaces structure
Duration of benefitLong-term, definitive for the right case
Tissue impactStructural change with recovery cost
Why Dr. Tortland
Why See Dr. Tortland Before Choosing Foot or Ankle Surgery
Dr. Tortland is a dual board certified sports medicine physician who has practiced since 1995. He performs every evaluation and injection himself under live ultrasound, and in 2015 he became the first physician in the world certified in regenerative medicine. If your problem needs a surgeon, he will tell you and refer you.
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain seen in this practice, and it's treated as its own diagnosis with its own evidence base, distinct from Achilles tendinopathy.
What is plantar fasciitis, and how is it diagnosed?
Plantar fasciitis is irritation and micro-tearing of the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue running along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes. Ultrasound can visualize fascia thickening and confirm the diagnosis directly, rather than relying on symptoms and heel-spur X-ray findings alone, which are frequently present in people without any pain.
Does PRP work for plantar fasciitis?
Evidence here is more favorable than for Achilles tendinopathy. A 2020 systematic review of 9 randomized trials (479 patients) found PRP produced significantly better pain scores than corticosteroid injection at every follow-up point from six weeks to twelve months. Most patients try stretching, orthotics, and physical therapy first, with PRP considered when those measures haven't resolved symptoms after several months.
Why not just get a cortisone shot for plantar fasciitis?
Cortisone can relieve plantar fasciitis pain quickly, but repeated steroid injections into the plantar fascia carry a real risk of fascia rupture and fat pad atrophy in the heel, a complication that can leave lasting pain of its own. PRP takes longer to work but carries a different risk profile and, per the trial evidence above, tends to outperform cortisone by the three-to-six month mark.
How many PRP injections does plantar fasciitis usually need?
Plantar fasciitis is often treated with a single PRP injection, then reassessed after eight to twelve weeks. A second injection is sometimes added if the response is partial.
Frequently asked
Foot, Ankle and Achilles FAQs
How long does plantar fasciitis take to heal?
Most people improve with simple care, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reports that more than 90 percent get better within 10 months. Stretching, supportive shoes and activity changes come first. If heel pain is not improving after a few months, Dr. Tortland confirms the cause with live ultrasound and can offer PRP, shockwave (ESWT) or other injections before surgery is considered.
Does PRP work for plantar fasciitis?
It may help. A 2026 analysis of 63 trials with 4,170 people found PRP supported better longer-term function, while steroid shots gave the biggest short-term relief and may weaken the plantar fascia. Dr. Tortland places PRP or PRP Supershot under ultrasound guidance. In his experience relief can last a year or more for many patients, though results vary from person to person.
What non-surgical options are there for Achilles, ankle and foot pain?
Most Achilles problems improve without surgery over a few months. Options include guided exercise, shockwave (ESWT), prolotherapy, Prolozone, joint injections and hyaluronic acid for ankle arthritis, hydrodissection for tarsal tunnel nerve pain, and BMA or MFAT for stubborn cases, using your own cells and FDA-cleared devices. Recent reviews found PRP no better than placebo for Achilles tendinopathy. A sudden pop in the heel or calf needs prompt care.
Do heel spurs need to be removed?
Usually not. Many people with heel spurs have no heel pain, and the spur is not what causes the pain of plantar fasciitis. Treatment focuses on the irritated tissue, not on removing the spur, using stretching, supportive footwear, activity changes and targeted injections. Dr. Tortland uses a full exam and ultrasound to confirm the true source of your heel pain.
Can a partial Achilles tear or chronic ankle instability heal without surgery?
Often, yes. Most partial Achilles tears and ankle sprains heal without surgery. Chronic ankle instability, where the ankle keeps giving way, usually starts with bracing and strengthening, and ultrasound-guided PRP, prolotherapy or Prolozone can be added to support the damaged ligaments and tendon. Dr. Tortland uses live ultrasound to tell a partial tear from a complete rupture. A complete rupture, or an ankle that keeps giving way despite treatment, needs a surgical opinion.
How much does foot and ankle treatment cost, and is it covered by insurance?
Dr. Tortland is out of network with all insurance plans and offers direct-pay care so every visit can be unrushed and comprehensive. The initial evaluation and comprehensive diagnostic workup is $500. PRP treatment starts at $1,800. Follow-up is typically 6 weeks to 3 months after treatment.
Written and clinically reviewed by
Paul D. Tortland, DO, FAOASM, CAQSM, RMSK
Dr. Paul Tortland, DO is a non-surgical orthopedic & sports medicine physician specializing in regenerative orthopedics and surgical alternative treatment. He is dual board-certified in Sports Medicine & Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM) and Regenerative Medicine, Fellowship-trained in Sports Medicine. He became the first physician in the world to earn board certification in Regenerative Medicine in 2015. Diplomate, American Board of Regenerative Medicine (ABRM), 2015. Registered in Musculoskeletal Ultrasound (RMSK).
Last clinically reviewed
October 2026
Sources
Sources and Further Reading on Achilles, Foot and Ankle Treatment
01
Mulvaney SW, Tortland PD, Shiple B, Curtis K. Regenerative medicine options for chronic musculoskeletal conditions: a review of the literature. Endurance and Sports Medicine. 2018.
02
Dai WL, et al. Efficacy of platelet-rich plasma versus hyaluronic acid in knee osteoarthritis: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
03
Filardo G, et al. Platelet-rich plasma intra-articular injections for cartilage degeneration and osteoarthritis: evidence and indications.