Plantar fasciitis is a runner’s worst enemy! It is one of the second most common injuries runners struggle with, which is understandable when considering the strain they put on their feet over long distances. Thankfully, a clinical remedy known as shockwave therapy has been shown to alleviate the effects of Plantar Fasciitis. Join us as we uncover how shockwave therapy works for plantar fasciitis and whether or not you should try it.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar Fasciitis is a condition commonly experienced by runners. It involves pain in the heel or arch of the foot caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia ligament, a thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of the foot, connecting the heel bone to the toes.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy uses ultrasound energy to penetrate an inflamed area of the body, creating a microtrauma in that area to prompt a healing response. When your body experiences the shockwaves, it responds by:
- Creating new blood vessels and sending them to that area, transporting more nutrients to promote recovery and dealing with the inflammation
- The hyperstimulation of nerve endings results in the alleviation of pain
For those of you wondering, shockwave therapy is non-invasive and safe. In addition to that, it can significantly reduce the pain you experience from plantar fasciitis.
The Procedure
When we say that shockwave therapy is non-invasive, we mean it’s done outside the body. So, once the procedure is complete, you can head home. The treatment is generally straightforward. You don’t need to do many things before you attend a therapy session. In some situations, you might receive local anesthesia or a sedative, so you may want to have someone with you to drive you home afterwards.
When you arrive for your session, this is what you should expect:
- You’ll be asked to take your shoes and socks off
- You’ll lie down flat on a bed, with your stomach down so the underside of your feet face up
- They will administer the sedative or local anesthetic
- Ultrasound gel will be applied to your heels
- The shockwave procedure will commence for about 10 to 20 minutes
During the therapy session, you may feel discomfort as the shockwaves hit your heel. In addition to that, if you have severe plantar fasciitis, you may need more than one session, too.
Is it effective?
So, down to the main question, how effective is shockwave therapy in treating plantar fasciitis? Depending on who you’re talking to, shockwave therapy has proven itself to successfully alleviate symptoms in around 80% of patients. To back that up, data from multiple studies shows that shockwave therapy is generally successful, particularly related to relieving pain symptoms. That said, we’ll let you decide this for yourself by weighing up the advantages and disadvantages of this therapy.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Shockwave Therapy
Here are some of the advantages of having shockwave therapy done for plantar fasciitis:
- Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive procedure, meaning that it’s done outside your body. Because of this, the prep and preparation time is minimal
- It’s proven to be a quick remedy for pain caused by plantar fasciitis
- It’s completely safe
- Because it’s a basic procedure, the overall risks are considered to be much lower than taking medication or undergoing surgical treatments
We wouldn’t be giving you the full picture if we didn’t mention some of the downsides too:
- Unfortunately, while the results show many successful cases, shockwave therapy doesn’t work for everyone
- Depending on how severe your plantar fasciitis is, you may need to go for several sessions
- If you don’t have insurance coverage, shockwave therapy can be expensive
- In some cases, complications include temporary pain, swelling, numbness, or bruising
Where to have Shockwave Therapy treatment done?
As a runner, we wouldn’t wish this injury on you at all, but, as you can see, it is a fairly common injury amongst runners, so there’s a good chance you may experience it. With that in mind, it’s helpful to know where you can get shockwave therapy treatment if you ever do struggle with plantar fasciitis. The Feet People offer professional shockwave therapy treatment and have the experience to assist your recovery so you can get back into running again.
Final thoughts
If you’re experiencing a pain in the arch of your foot that’s consistent and unrelenting, the chances are that you may have plantar fasciitis. After reading this, we encourage you to explore shockwave therapy as an option for alleviating the pain and helping you recover sooner, so you can start running again.