Shockwave therapy – Sydney podiatrist David Wong explains

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How does shockwave therapy work (ESWT) on heel and arch pain?

dolorclast_smart_HR-2-1-560x616Shock Wave Treatment or ESWT (“E” standing for extracorporeal) stimulates your natural healing process by increasing blood supply and breaking up calcium deposits within tendons and ligaments.

A high-speed sound wave is generated within the shockwave gun. This then penetrates through the skin and into the area of pain. The characteristic migration of this wave is spherical and is often referred to as a ‘drop in a pond’ wave. This wave stimulates the tissues as it migrates in a radial (circular) fashion. As the sound wave ripples through the tissue it stimulates blood vessel production and scatters a blood factor called substance ‘P’. The extra blood allows healing to start at the area of complaint while the scattering of substance ‘P’ causes a relief from your discomfort.

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Heel pain – Sydney Podiatrist explains Shockwave therapy and the treatment of heel pain.

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Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy

Shockwave therapy kicks start the healing response.

Known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy, this involves firing mechanical shockwaves into the sole of the foot to jump-start the healing process. The idea of using shockwaves to break up kidney stones has been around for 20 years or so, but only recently have we realised that it can also help heal tendons or ligaments, which is very exciting. While doctors don’t know exactly how it works, we think it creates controlled micro-damage stimulating the healing response which becomes retarded with long term chronic injuries such as heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis. For this reason it is most effective in patients who have had heel pain associated with plantar fasciitis for a long time — over six to 12 months. Here, the inflammation has settled down and the healing has stopped, but the patient still has chronic pain — not just a bit of pain in the morning. Read more