The advantages of using shockwave therapy to treat foot pain
Posted on: 24 March 2022
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Shockwave treatment is a new method for dealing with various tendon and bone conditions, including numerous foot problems such as plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. You may be offered this treatment as an alternative to surgery or steroid injections. What are the benefits of this type of therapy?
Non-invasive
Firstly, shockwave therapy is non-invasive. There are no knives or needles involved, and there is no need for anaesthetics. This is especially useful for people who are squeamish about surgery or who simply do not want the fuss that is associated with it.
Fast
Secondly, the treatment is very quick. The therapy consists of using a hand-held device to pass bursts of compressed air against the body, which takes very little preparation — just the application of ultrasound gel to the affected area. A typical session will take less than half an hour, leaving the rest of your day free.
Versatile
This kind of treatment can be used to deal with a wide variety of ailments. It can help with Achilles tendon problems, heel pain, stress fractures in the bones, plantar fasciitis and, in fact, any problems with the tendons or bones of the foot — as well as a variety of issues in the rest of the body, such as tennis elbow or knee pain. This versatility means that it can help with your own foot pain, regardless of the cause or exact area concerned.
Quick-acting
Shockwave therapy also delivers very fast results. It is intended to increase the blood flow to the affected areas such as the heel or the tendons in the foot, thereby allowing faster natural healing. This process will begin immediately, and many patients report improvements the next day — sometimes even sooner. This can include both pain reduction and greater ease of movement.
Few side effects
You should also not experience any real side effects from shockwave therapy. Although there are some people who are unsuitable for the treatment — for example, pregnant women or those with pacemakers — most people will have no problems with the therapy. The worst you should feel is a small amount of tenderness or numbness in the part of the foot that was treated.
Your podiatrist will be happy to discuss any further concerns with you and establish whether this therapy will be a quick and easy method of helping with your own foot pain.
For more information on shockwave therapy, contact a professional near you.