Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy, or ESWT, is a treatment for chronic heel pain and plantar fascitis which produces an "acute", or new, injury to treat a chronic or persistent condition. The therapy triggers the body’s own repair mechanisms resulting in increased vascularization, blood flow, tendon elasticity and enhanced tendon healing. An analgesic or pain relieving effect also results from the sound wave bombardment. ESWT is an FDA approved "non-invasive or no incision" treatment for both plantar fasciitis, which is commonly associated with heel spurs, and lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow. ESWT is also used to successfully treat achilles tendons, knees and shoulders. Shockwave therapy has a success rate of approximately 80%, which is comparable to its invasive counter parts. However, ESWT is preferable in the long run because of the greatly reduced risk of scarring or infection. Our practice now offers ESWT treatments in the office. If you suffer from chronic heel pain, now is the time to call our office, so we can offer our many treatment options to you, including ESWT.