Pressure wave treatment of foot pain due to plantar fascitis.

Last updated 17/03/2020 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health

Pressure wave treatment of foot pain due to plantar fascitis.

Plantar fascitis is a relatively common problem that causes pain in the foot blade on the front of the heel and the longitudinal medial arch. An overload of the fibrous tissue in the foot blade which constitutes the support of the foot arch can result in what we call plantar fascitis.

In most cases, patients can be treated with relatively simple measures, depending on how long they have had the pain and so on, but in other cases more active treatment such as pressure wave therapy is required. Some simpler treatment methods involve relief (eg with heel support designed specifically for plantar fascitis), dipping, sole alignment and stretching exercises.

Research has shown that 3-4 pressure wave treatments may be enough to cause a lasting change in a chronic plantar fascite problem (Rompe et al, 2002).

 

Pain in the foot. Image: Wikimedia Commons

How does the pressure wave treatment of plantar fascitis work?

First and foremost, the clinician will map where the pain is and most likely mark it with a pen or similar. Thereafter, the clinical protocols are used for individual problems (for example, 2000 beats of plantar fascia are treated with a 15mm probe). Treatment is performed over 3-5 treatments, depending on the duration and strength of the problem, with 1 week in between. It is important that pressure wave treatment is not performed much more often than once a week, and that it is allowed to go about 1 week between each treatment - this is to allow the healing response to take time to work with the dysfunctional foot tissue. Like other forms of treatment, treatment tenderness can occur, and this is usually due to the fact that it causes tissue changes.

Function:

The repetitive pressure waves from the pressure wave apparatus cause microtrauma in the treated area, which recreates neo-vascularization (new blood circulation) in the region. It is the new blood circulation that promotes healing in the tissue.

Achieve faster recovery

We also strongly recommend that you use compression sock (special edition against plantar fasciitis):

RELATED PRODUCT / SELF-HELP: - Compression sock

This compression sock is specially designed to provide pressure to the correct points of plantar fasciitis / heel groove. Compression socks can contribute to increased blood circulation and healing in those affected by reduced function in the feet.

Source:

Rompe, JD, et al. "Evaluation of low-energy extracorporeal shock-wave application for treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis." Jour Bone Joint Surg. 2002; 84: 335-41.

Also read:

- Pain in the foot