24 Sep What Is Extracorporeal Shock Wave?
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is one of the latest, state-of-the-art podiatric techniques that we use at Cherrywood Foot Care to treat chronic heel pain such as heel spur syndrome and plantar fasciitis. This innovative therapy involves a non-invasive procedure to remedy the painful symptoms associated with these conditions and effectively maintain foot health. Continue reading to discover if extracorporeal shock wave therapy is right for you.
What Is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy?
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is used to treat heel pain by using energy waves delivered into the affected tissues. The word extracorporeal means outside the body, which is exactly how the waves travel in this therapy. During this non-invasive procedure, our podiatrist will direct waves at the painful area using a device similar to the one used to treat kidney stones. The sonic waves penetrate the painful area on your foot and stimulate the body’s natural healing process. This therapy aims to bring about a healing response, specifically increased collagen production and decreased inflammation in the tissue, to promote healing. This non-invasive treatment is easy for patients to tolerate as it does not involve needles or incisions into the affected area.
What Does It Treat?
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy has been proven effective at relieving plantar fasciitis, but it has also been used to alleviate a variety of conditions, including the following:
- Morton’s Neuroma.
- Bone Spurs.
- Foot and Ankle Pain.
- Achilles Tendinopathy.
This procedure generally lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Following this procedure, it is essential for you to stay on top of your pain management and foot care during this time in order to allow the extracorporeal shock wave therapy to be as effective as possible. When done correctly, patients have excellent results with treating their heel pain with this technology.
Contact Us
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a safe, effective way to treat heel pain without the risks and costs associated with surgery. While this treatment may not be suitable for every heel pain problem, our team at Cherrywood Foot Care is here to consult with you to determine if extracorporeal shock wave therapy is right for you. To learn more about this innovative therapy, be sure to contact our team today!