Plantar Fasciitis: How to Can Shockwave Help
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is a band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects your heel bone to your toes. This condition can cause heel pain that’s often more severe or noticeable in the morning.
Traditional treatments for plantar fasciitis include rest, physical therapy, and medication — but in recent decades, Chiropractic and shock wave therapy has emerged as a treatment options
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Shock wave therapy uses high levels of targeted acoustic energy to promote healing and reduce pain. It’s noninvasive and may help people with plantar fasciitis avoid more extensive treatments like surgery. But the treatment doesn’t work for everyone and the results can be unpredictable.
How does shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis work?
In shock wave therapy, a healthcare professional will apply penetrating waves of ultrasound energy to an inflamed area of your body, creating microtrauma in that area. This microtrauma prompts a healing response in your body.
In response to shock wave therapy, the body can:
- Create new blood vessels that bring more blood and nutrition to the inflammation.
- Receive hyperstimulation of nerve endings, resulting in immediate pain reduction.
- Break down calcifications.
- Increase cell permeability for increased healing.
Shock wave treatment is noninvasive and can dramatically lessen pain and other plantar fasciitis symptoms. This makes it an ideal alternative for people who may not want to take medication or receive invasive surgical treatments.
Procedure for shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis
Shock wave therapy is noninvasive, meaning it happens on the outside of your body. It is performed on an outpatient basis, so you’ll be able to go home once your procedure is complete.
There aren’t generally any specific steps you need to take before a shock wave procedure. But you’ll likely be receiving local anesthesia or a sedative, so it’s a good idea to have someone else take you to and from your appointment.
Once you arrive at the facility for your treatment, here’s what you can typically expect from the procedure:
- You’ll be asked to remove your socks and shoes.
- You’ll lie flat on a cushioned table, with your stomach down and your legs supported by a pillow.
- You’ll have ultrasound gel applied to your heels.
- A technician will use a specialized probe to deliver shock waves to your heels.
The procedure takes about 5 to 10 minutes per foot.
You might feel some mild discomfort as the shock waves penetrate your heel. Depending on the severity of your plantar fasciitis pain, you may need to return for four to six additional shock wave sessions.
How effective is shock wave therapy?
In general, shock wave therapy is thought to provide some symptom relief for about 65% to 80% of people who receive this treatment.
And many people with plantar fasciitis who’ve received shock wave therapy report experiencing a dramatic decrease in pain — case studies confirm many of these experiences.
What are the pros and cons of shock wave therapy?
Shock wave therapy has many possible benefits, but it’s not the best solution for everyone.
Some of the benefits of shock wave therapy include that it:
- is a noninvasive treatment with minimal preparation and recovery needed
- resolves pain quickly
- is considered safe
- has a lower risk of complications than medication or surgical treatments
- can help people with plantar fasciitis avoid unnecessary surgery
Some of the downsides of shock wave therapy that you should consider include:
- It’s not effective for everyone.
- You may need multiple treatments over time to see significant results.
- Many insurance companies don’t cover shock wave therapy.
- Treatments can be expensive without insurance coverage.
- Complications can include temporary pain, bruising, swelling, and numbness.
How much does shock wave therapy cost for plantar fasciitis?
The exact cost for shock wave therapy can depend on:
- the type of shock wave therapy a doctor or specialist recommends
- the number of sessions you need
- your geographical location
Health insurance doesn’t cover shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis, however you can use your HSA or FSA.
The takeaway
Shock wave therapy can help some people with plantar fasciitis reduce pain. This technique has been in use for over two decades, and studies suggest that it can be an effective treatment.
At Eaton Chiropractic we look at your body and your life as a whole. If you have a friend, family member or coworker who is looking to truly elevate their health have them give the team a call at 770-429-9733 for an initial consultation done at our expense. We are in network with all insurance, including Medicare and Kaiser.
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