Shockwave Treatment Specialist

What is shockwave treatment?

Shockwave treatment, or shockwave therapy, is a nonsurgical, noninvasive procedure your podiatrist uses to treat tendinopathy, heel spurs, achilles tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis. All are associated with pain and inflammation in your heel or ankle. 

The treatment uses acoustic sound waves to stimulate healing near an injury and ease pain associated with it. Your doctor might recommend shockwave treatment if you haven’t responded to more conservative treatments. 

What are the benefits of shockwave therapy?

You can reap numerous benefits from shockwave treatment, including:

• Release of trigger points
• Less chronic inflammation
• More collagen production
• New blood vessel formation
• Relief from chronic pain
• Faster healing
• Better functionality
• Improved quality of life

The procedure accelerates cell growth and tissue repair to treat numerous foot and ankle injuries and abnormalities.

What should I expect during shockwave treatment?

Shockwave treatment for plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, or chronic tendinopathy takes just five minutes to complete. Your provider applies a special gel to your skin and uses a state-of-the-art machine to emit sound waves into injured or painful areas of your foot or ankle.

You might feel slight discomfort during treatment, but most patients tolerate it well. Your doctor adjusts the soundwave applicator’s intensity to make your experience as comfortable as possible.

Unlike surgery, shockwave treatment is noninvasive, without a lengthy recovery period, so you can resume normal everyday activities after the procedure. Your podiatrist might recommend a series of 3-5 treatments spaced 3-10 days apart for best results, but you often experience pain relief after just one session.

What should I expect after the procedure?

After shockwave treatment, your body creates new tissue cells near the site of the injury. You’ll notice immediate, significant improvements in chronic pain following the session. 

However, you might also experience soreness near the treated area. Your doctor recommends avoiding physical activity for at least 48 hours after shockwave therapy.

Am I a good candidate for shockwave treatment?

Talk with your doctor to find out if you’re a good candidate for shockwave therapy. It’s an alternative to surgery if you haven’t experienced relief from conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, or cortisone injections.

Don’t let foot or ankle pain linger and make everyday tasks unbearable when simple solutions are within reach. Call Foot & Ankle Specialty Center to learn more about shockwave treatment or schedule an appointment online today.