Plantar fasciitis, resulting from inflammation of the plantar fascia tissue in the foot, is a leading cause of heel pain. If you’re experiencing sharp heel pain, especially in the morning, you may be dealing with plantar fasciitis. While rest and orthotics can offer temporary relief, many are turning to shockwave therapy, also known as Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), as an emerging and effective treatment option that provides lasting relief from plantar fasciitis.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis refers to the inflammation of the plantar fascia, a thick fibrous band that runs along the underside of the foot from the heel to the toes. This condition manifests as:
Sharp, stabbing heel pain, especially during the initial steps after waking in the morning
Pain that partially subsides with activity but worsens as the day progresses
Tenderness when applying pressure to the inner heel
The primary causes include overuse injuries, excessive foot impact, tight calf muscles, improper foot mechanics (like flat feet), and obesity. If left untreated, these symptoms can persist for an extended period.
What You Can Do at Home
While waiting for an appointment, there are some things you can start trying at home that may help provide some temporary relief:
Take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication to reduce inflammation and pain
Roll a frozen water bottle under your foot to ice the heel
Do calf and foot stretches to improve flexibility
Use orthotic inserts or heel cups to support the arch
Wear shoes with good cushioning and arch support
Limit activities that put strain on feet
Though these won’t fully resolve the problem like shockwave therapy, they may help manage the discomfort.
Other Treatment Options
There are other common treatment options for plantar fasciitis beyond shockwave therapy, including:
Custom orthotics
Night splints to stretch the plantar fascia
Physical therapy focused on stretching and strengthening
Anti-inflammatory steroid injections
Surgery if conservative options fail
However, these other options have higher risks, longer recovery times, or less evidence of effectiveness compared to shockwave therapy. While sometimes necessary, other treatments often just address the symptoms rather than the root cause.
Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis
Shockwave therapy is a cutting-edge treatment option that provides lasting relief from plantar fasciitis pain. It uses targeted sound waves to stimulate healing and regeneration of the plantar fascia tissue.
Compared to other options, the benefits of shockwave therapy include:
It’s non-invasive with virtually no risk of complications.
Relief is often experienced after just 3-5 brief treatments.
It precisely targets the plantar fascia without damaging other tissues.
It has a high success rate and provides lasting improvements in pain.
It avoids the risks of surgery, steroid injections, or medications.
Why Shockwave Therapy is Effective
There are many reasons why shockwave therapy is so effective for chronic plantar fasciitis:
It offers quick and lasting pain relief - most patients report a significant decrease in symptoms after just a few sessions.
It reduces inflammation and facilitates tissue healing by stimulating repair and regeneration.
It succeeds in cases of chronic plantar fasciitis that have not responded adequately to things like orthotics, medications, stretching, etc.
The beneficial effects are lasting - studies show improvements are maintained one year after treatment.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for You?
Consider shockwave therapy if:
You’ve had pain for 6+ months with little improvement from other conservative treatments.
You want lasting relief that addresses the underlying cause, rather than just temporary symptom management.
You are willing to commit to 3-5 treatment sessions spaced about a week apart for optimal results.
You want effective treatment with minimal downtime and interruption to your routine.
Don’t live with chronic heel pain. Our clinic offers shockwave therapy from certified providers. Contact us to learn more and schedule a consultation.
For lasting relief from chronic plantar fasciitis pain, shockwave therapy is an effective option worth exploring. Contact our office to discuss how this innovative treatment can help resolve your heel pain.
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