Shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis
The Journey Of Plantar Fasciitis:
The body is continually adapting to the demands we place on it. Skin gets thicker if we use our hands a lot (manual worker), and muscles get stronger if we train them.
The stitching that connects the heel bone to the toes is called the plantar fascia, and it too can harden with extra stress (poor footwear choice, old trauma, genetics or running). It becomes reinforced by the body (adaption) to cope with this additional stress:
Thickening Phase
If you have an unforgiving thick fascia & then walk or run, a repetitive yank on the underside of the heel is amplified. This increase is due to the elastic elements of the cord being removed by the body (more stiffness = less bounce). This often happens without any pain or even symptoms.
Yanking Phase
A period generally above the norm for the individual of either the arch dropping (poor shoe support, walking on unstable ground, i.e. sand/ wet mud) or excessive time on toes increases the pull through this now stiff cord. The yanking leads to inflammation of the plantar fascia on the underside heel.
Pain Phase
This inflammation and pain is termed medically as plantar fasciitis.
Treatments That Soften The Fascia:
While classic methods of softening and stretching, i.e. massage and stretching, are first employed, many people don't respond. Our groundbreaking plantar fasciitis management “shockwave therapy” softens the fascia in a quick, non-invasive 15-30 minute treatment.
The softening effect of the sound waves gets to the cause of the problem with good results in 70-80%, depending on different studies, or it is the top choice for heel pain.
We then combine this with medical insoles to retain the pain-free state and give our tried and tested exercise and education protocols for long-term independence from discomfort.