Plantar Fasciitis Shock Wave Treatment

Plantar fasciitis is a foot injury where the plantar fascia is suffering from tears and swelling due to stress and overuse. There are many conservative treatments for this condition. Some patients, however, are considering a newer form of treatment that is still being studied: shock wave therapy.

Identification

• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is a type of treatment for plantar fasciitis that uses low-energy shock wave therapy as a non-invasive alternative procedure.

Function

• ESWT devices generate pulses of high-pressure sound. These pulses travel through the skin, and are said to have the potential to cause the soft tissue and bone they reach to heal back stronger.

Comparison

• Typically, physical therapists uses ultrasound machines to treat plantar fasciitis by using high-frequency sound waves to warm internal tissue. Instead of continuous lower-energy waves, the ESWT machine sends higher-energy pulses at longer intervals, just two or three times per second.

Regulation

• ESWT treatment for plantar fasciitis was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2000. However, there is still no evidence that the longer-term disease natural history was altered or improved by this treatment.

Time Frame

• ESWT treatment may take as long as three months to see its full benefit. The recovery period is short, with little to no side effects.