Many people don’t realize just how much their feet do for them on a daily
basis until a problem develops. Day in and day out, our feet act as shock
absorbers for everything from walking to jumping to playing sports. If you are
dealing with chronic musculoskeletal foot pain that don’t seem to respond to
conservative at-home treatments like icing, splinting or over-the-counter
medications, it’s time to talk to us about whether extracorporeal shockwave
therapy may finally give you the relief you’ve been looking for.
What is extracorporeal shockwave therapy?
This non-invasive, nonsurgical technique uses shockwaves to treat various
muscular problems of the foot to stimulate the body’s own natural healing
process to speed up healing. It is believed that this therapy actually helps
increase blood flow to these damaged areas to promote faster tissue and muscle
repair.
What conditions can shockwave therapy treat?
Shockwave therapy is often recommended to those people suffering from chronic
cases of Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis. This treatment is most
commonly used on people who are dealing with persistent or severe heel pain
that doesn’t respond to other treatment options.
However, shockwave therapy should not be used on patients who have neuropathy
or loss of sensation in their feet, as well as those who suffer from seizures
or a heart condition. We will discuss your full medical history during your
evaluation to make sure that this procedure is right for you.
What happens during the procedure?
A probe is placed on the skin, where an electrical charge will begin creating
shockwaves over the areas that are causing pain. There are two types of
shockwave therapies: high-energy and low-energy. High-energy waves may require
a patient to receive a local anesthetic prior to the procedure, while
low-energy waves are often more popular because this can be done without
anesthesia and patients can easily instruct us as to the exact areas of pain
to provide more effective relief.
What should I expect after treatment?
Many patients are able to bear weight on the foot right after their therapy.
However, you should avoid any strenuous physical activity for a couple of
weeks. We will provide you with detailed information about which activities
are safe and which ones you should avoid during the healing process.
If you want to find out how extracorporeal shockwave therapy could improve
your foot pain, then it’s time you scheduled a consultation at our podiatry
office in San Leandro, CA by calling (510) 483-3390.