Treating Plantar Fasciitis With Shockwave Therapy

January 2024 by Steven

If you suffer from plantar fasciitis and have had no success with painkillers, physiotherapy, ice or rest (but you’re not ready to resort to surgery), shockwave therapy might be for you. It’s a non-invasive treatment where sound waves are passed through your skin to the injured tissue, relieving your heel pain and stimulating healing. The great thing about shockwave is that you can get on with your regular activities straight away, unlike surgery, which has a big recovery time. Read on to find out more about shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis.

What is plantar fasciitis?

The plantar fascia is the weblike ligament at the bottom of your foot that attaches your heel bone to your toes. It supports the arch and absorbs shock as you walk. Plantar fasciitis occurs when this ligament is inflamed, causing pain in your heel and the arch of your foot. The cause of plantar fasciitis isn’t always known, but it’s usually because you’ve strained the ligament in some way – for example, by wearing shoes that don’t support the arch of your foot properly, overstretching your foot during exercise, or doing more running than usual.

What is shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis?

Shockwave therapy (also sometimes called extracorporeal shockwave therapy or ESWT) treats plantar fasciitis using sound waves. The sound waves pass through the skin to the plantar fascia, boosting blood flow in the injured tissue and stimulating new tissue growth. The treatment is administered using a small handheld device, which is held against the heel as the sound waves pass through. It’s a completely non-invasive plantar fasciitis treatment.

What happens during extracorporeal shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis?

When you have your first shockwave therapy session, the first thing you’ll do is have an objective assessment with your consultant to check that the treatment is suitable for you.

Your session will take place in a clinic, and you don’t need to bring anything with you apart from wearing comfortable clothing. You’ll only be able to have the treatment if you haven’t taken ibuprofen, aspirin or any other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs for two weeks.

Following your assessment, you will have your first round of shockwave therapy. You will lie on your front on the treatment table, with your foot raised on a pillow. The consultant will apply an ultrasound gel to your heel, and will place the handheld shockwave device against your heel. The treatment will begin and you will feel a series of quick throbs against your skin as the sound waves are administered. This usually lasts about 10 minutes per session.

You might feel a bit of pain or discomfort in your heel during the procedure, but it shouldn’t be too intense. This just means that the injured tissue is responding and the treatment is working. If the pain is too much, let your therapist know and they will adjust the intensity.

Does shockwave therapy work for plantar fasciitis?

Shockwave therapy has been proven to be effective at managing heel pain and treating plantar fasciitis. In some studies, it has a success rate of nearly 90%. Shockwave therapy is also endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for treating plantar fasciitis. In one study by NICE, 69% of patients who had shockwave therapy reported no heel pain afterwards, while all patients who had other treatments reported some pain.

Is it ever too late to start shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis?

No, it’s never too late. Even if you’ve been suffering with plantar fasciitis and heel pain for a while, and no other treatments have worked, you could still have success with shockwave therapy. The treatment is designed to stimulate the healing process, which often slows down if your injury has persisted for a long time, and many people have success with shockwave for their chronic plantar fasciitis even if conventional treatments haven’t worked for them.

How much does shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis cost?

At Midlands Shockwave & Physiotherapy Clinic, your first shockwave session is £60 (which includes your assessment), and follow-up appointments are £50. Most people need between 3 and 6 sessions for the treatment to be effective, so it normally costs between £160 and £360. Your physiotherapist will discuss a treatment plan with you during your first appointment.

Plantar fasciitis shockwave therapy side effects

You may experience some mild side effects from your shockwave therapy, such as:

• Pain in your heel during the treatment
• Slight discomfort in your heel for up to a week
• Swelling, bruising or reddened skin around the heel
• In very rare cases, there is a chance of rupture to the ligament or damage to the soft tissue

If you do experience any side effects, these should go away within a week.

Shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis recovery time

The great thing about shockwave therapy is that you don’t need to take time off work or change your daily routine for recovery. Once you’ve had your treatment, you can get back to your usual activities straight away. Just make sure you don’t put unnecessary strain on your heel for 48 hours following treatment – for example, running or walking long distances. Your consultant may give you some gentle stretching exercises to do to help with your recovery.

Ready to try shockwave therapy to relieve plantar fasciitis pain? Book here

To book your first shockwave therapy session to treat your heel pain (which includes an objective assessment), book online or call Midlands Shockwave & Physiotherapy Clinic on 0121 308 7774.