Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy for Foot & Ankle Pain

Whatever the cause of your foot or ankle pain, we know you want it to go away as quickly as possible. If you’ve just hurt yourself, you may have already tried the RICE method: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. You may have even tried over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen.

When nothing else works, and you don’t want surgery – or aren’t a good candidate for surgery – a new technique called shockwave therapy may provide long-lasting relief. Sometimes called extracorporeal therapy because it takes place entirely outside the body, this innovative new technology may help you live pain-free.

Plymouth Podiatry is proud to add shockwave therapy to our growing list of services. Keep reading to learn more about it, including the types of foot and ankle pain we can treat with it.

What is Shockwave Therapy?

Shockwave therapy is a form of non-invasive, non-medicated pain relief. Your doctor will hold a small device against your skin that generates high-intensity ultrasound waves targeting your pain.

Shockwave therapy stimulates blood flow to the affected area or damaged tissue. This increased blood flow allows muscles to relax and damaged tissue to heal faster. Patients report almost immediate pain relief.

How is Shockwave Therapy Used in Podiatry?

As one of the newest methods of treatment, shockwave therapy is now being used on some of the most common types of foot and ankle pain, such as plantar fasciitis or tendonitis. Your doctor might suggest trying shockwave therapy if the usual at-home treatments – rest, ice, compression, elevation, orthotics, and over-the-counter NSAIDs – haven’t worked. While shockwave therapy isn’t a substitute for surgery, it can often help eliminate or delay the need for surgery.

Shockwave therapy is appropriate primarily for chronic conditions. We’ll discuss ways that shockwave therapy treats specific foot and ankle conditions in the FAQs below.

FAQ: Shockwave Therapy

We understand that shockwave therapy is new, and you might have questions. Here are some of the most common questions we get from our patients about this innovative treatment.

Q: Is shockwave therapy painful?

A: Despite the word “shock” in the name, shockwave therapy is generally not painful. Some patients report mild discomfort during or immediately following treatment, but your experience will vary. At Plymouth Podiatry, we do our best to make sure all of our patients are comfortable, relaxed, and in as little pain as possible.

Q: How long will my shockwave therapy appointment take?

Your shockwave therapy treatment will take anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes. The length of the appointment depends on the location, cause, and intensity of your pain.

Shockwave therapy is an outpatient treatment, and you’ll get to go home right away.

Q: How many sessions will I need?

A: The number of treatments you require for full pain relief will depend on the location, cause, and intensity of your pain. Some patients report full relief after just one session, while other patients require up to five rounds of treatment spaced about a week apart.

Q: What can shockwave therapy treat?

A: Shockwave therapy can treat nearly all foot and ankle problems, including:

Plantar fasciitis: Shockwave therapy is delivered to the heel to promote blood flow and tissue regeneration in the plantar fascia. This will significantly reduces pain and inflammation, especially if your pain has been unresponsive to other treatments.
Tendonitis: Shockwave therapy helps heal inflamed tendons by stimulating circulation and cellular repair. It’s commonly used as an alternative when rest and physical therapy aren’t working.
Heel spurs: Shockwave therapy targets the painful bony growth area to reduce inflammation and promote healing.
Morton’s neuroma: Some practitioners use shockwave therapy to reduce nerve inflammation and pain between the toes.
Stress fractures: While rest is the primary treatment for stress fractures, shock therapy is sometimes used when that’s not enough. It stimulates bone healing by encouraging blood flow and cellular activity at the fracture site.
Ligament sprains: When nothing else has worked, shockwave therapy can promote tissue repair and reduce pain in chronic ligament injuries.
Shin splints: Shockwave therapy is sometimes used to treat persistent shin splints by reducing inflammation along the shinbone.
Heel bursitis: If anti-inflammatory over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen don’t work to reduce the inflammation in your heel, shockwave therapy may be recommended.

Q: Are there side effects with shockwave therapy?

A: Side effects are uncommon. However, when they do occur, they usually include some minor bruising or swelling at the site of your treatment. If these do happen, they usually go away quickly.

Q: What should I do to prepare for shockwave therapy?

A: You and your doctor will decide together whether shockwave therapy could be beneficial for your foot or ankle problem. You’ll be given instructions for the day of your appointment, such as wearing comfortable clothes or supportive shoes. Since shockwave therapy is a non-medicated, non-intrusive therapy, you should be able to go straight home and back to your most normal activities right away.

You may be asked to avoid taking pain relievers on the day of your appointment so that you can tell your doctor exactly where the pain is.

Q: How long does shockwave therapy treatment last?

A: Patients report feeling completely better for 10 to 15 weeks after treatment. Some patients might even stay pain-free for up to a year. It all depends on the nature of your initial pain and how well your body responds to the treatment.

Q: Will my insurance cover shockwave therapy?

A: Generally, most insurance companies do not cover shockwave therapy. However, we recommend you check with your insurance provider.

As far as costs go, shockwave therapy is still much more affordable than surgery, and may eliminate your need for surgery altogether.

Shockwave Therapy at Plymouth Podiatry

Plymouth Podiatry is proud to offer this highly effective and minimally invasive method of treatment for many foot and ankle problems. Call our office at 508-747-1973 (Plymouth) or 508-824-9571 (Raynham), or fill out our online contact form to find out whether shockwave therapy might be right for you!