Shockwave is Effective for Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain. It’s often seen in middle aged and elderly people, and associated with pain, difficulty in walking and performing activities of daily living. Shockwave Therapy is a specialized form of treatment which shows promise in the treatment of Plantar Fasciitis.
What is Plantar Fasciitis?
Plantar fasciitis is the result of collagen degeneration of the plantar fascia, which happens to be close to the heel.
The plantar fascia is important in allowing for normal biomechanics of the foot, provides support for the arch of your foot and absorbs a lot of shock while you walk or run [2].
Plantar fasciitis is also associated with a calcaneal (heel) spur formation [2]. A heel spur is a bony formation that results from a tendon pulling on the bone creating a painful outgrowth of bone.
Common Treatment Options for Plantar Fasciitis
Treatment modalities for plantar fasciitis include orthotics, stretching, taping, laser therapy, drug medication, acupuncture along with physical therapy through physiotherapy, chiropractic, or massage therapy.
Corticosteroid injections and over the counter pain meds are commonly used to help patient manage, but luckily shockwave therapy can be more effective than these other methods [2].
A Review of Research Shows Shockwave Is Effective for Plantar Fasciitis
A meta-analysis of research compared the effects of shockwave therapy to corticosteroid injections and found that shockwave therapy is superior [2].
Comparing shockwave to ultrasound, another review article showed both are effective, but once again Shockwave therapy proved to be a superior alternative in improving symptoms pertaining to plantar fasciitis [3].
In terms of pain, reliance on pain meds, self-reported function – shockwave is safe and effective in treating plantar fasciitis. Other research has shown the improvements can be see soon after the onset of treatment, and in some cases, improvement was maintained for up to 12 months after treatment stopped [4].
Shockwave at Absolute Health and Wellness
At Absolute Health, we offer shockwave therapy for Plantar Fasciitis. We may use a combination of tools to help, including shockwave, but also Orthotics, Acupuncture, physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy and naturopathy.
All shockwave appointments are carried out by a registered practitioner so if you have Extended Health Benefits, your benefits will cover these appointments the same way it would for physio, chiro, massage or naturopathy.
Call the clinic at 519 442 2206 or book online today!
References
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About the Author - Sonia Gashgarian
Sonia Gashgarian is a registered physiotherapist who graduated with a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Toronto. Prior to this she completed her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with Honours from the University of Waterloo. Sonia has completed courses in sports taping and basic kinesio-taping, as well as the McKenzie Method of Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy and Mulligan Concept. She also has her APTEI Acupuncture and Dry Needling Certification.
Sonia uses a variety of treatment techniques to help clients feel better and return to their regular activities as soon as possible. Her individualized treatments may include the following: education, joint mobilizations, exercise prescription, soft tissue release, trigger point release, taping, acupuncture and dry needling, cupping, and Gua Sha.
To book in please call us at (519) 442-2206 or click here.