A non-surgical, non-injection treatment for plantar fascists (heel pain) and tendonitis of the foot and ankle.
A non-surgical, non-injection treatment for plantar fascists (heel pain) and tendonitis of the foot and ankle.
Extracorporeal
Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is a non-invasive option for treating pain caused by tissue or tendon inflammation in the foot and ankle. It is an effective treatment for patients suffering from chronic tendinopathy that persists even after traditional treatments.
Chronic tendinopathy is complicated to treat and is usually accompanied by localized pain and pathological changes to a tendon. This condition affects both athletes and non-athletes. During treatment, pulsated soundwaves are passed through injured soft tissue to reduce pain and promote healing.
The procedure is an effective non-surgical option to treat chronic conditions, such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis. At Peninsula Podiatry, our podiatrists offers ESWT (an FDA-approved procedure) to help our patients avoid painful injections and surgery. It is part of our goal to provide regenerative, less invasive treatment options to our patients.
ESWT Treatment in Silverdale, WA
Shockwave therapy helps the body increase blood flow, stimulate the regeneration of damaged tissue, and move the immune system back to an active healing state. It is particularly effective for patients with chronic pain and inflammation.
To learn if shockwave therapy is suitable for you and your feet, please call Peninsula Podiatry for an appointment. To schedule an appointment with our podiatrists, please call (360) 245-2248. For your convenience, you can also request an appointment online.
ESWT FAQs
ESWT is an outpatient procedure that delivers high-level or low-level shock waves to impacted soft tissue to reduce pain and promote healing. It is a non-invasive treatment that improves blood circulation and accelerates healing, decreasing pain for soft tissue conditions of the foot and ankle.
A typical session might last anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes and does not require hospitalization. It is performed as an outpatient procedure.
When your body experiences chronic pain, it can no longer recognize an injury to that area. The healing process is therefore stopped, and naturally, the pain continues.
With ESWT, low-energy shock waves are applied to these painful regions to jump-start the healing process. The shock waves penetrate deep and target the injured soft tissue to cause microtrauma in that region.
This triggers the healing process in the body by stimulating metabolism and improving blood circulation. The process encourages damaged tissue to regenerate and heal and provides relief from pain.
Typically, patients are likely to feel relief after three treatments. Treatment is usually spread over multiple weekly sessions, and the best results are seen after four to six weeks.
There is almost no post-procedure downtime, and most patients can return to their normal routine immediately after.
While some patients may experience immediate pain relief after treatment, others may experience some side effects of ESWT. This can include:
You may be prescribed mild painkillers if you are in discomfort. The recovery period after ESWT is minimal compared to that of surgical intervention.
Although ESWT is FDA-approved for painful foot and ankle conditions, it is not yet covered by insurance.
At Peninsula Podiatry, your condition will be comprehensively evaluated to determine if ESWT will benefit you. Most insurance plans cover the office evaluation, but you can confirm this with your insurance provider.
It is prudent to weigh the cost benefits of a non-surgical therapy that takes only a few minutes to perform versus the downtime and income loss involved in surgical intervention.
ESWT treatment is only recommended after our podiatrists conducts a physical evaluation and reviews your medical history to confirm that the therapy will help you.
ESWT is not recommended for people who:
Since ESWT activates inflammation in your body so that the healing process can kick in, you will likely be advised to stop taking anti-inflammatory medication one week before treatment starts until four weeks after your last session.
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