Las Vegas Podiatrist Dr. David Biesinger Uses Shockwave Therapy to Provide Relief From Painful Foot Conditions
If you've been dealing with chronic foot or ankle pain that hasn't responded to other treatments, shockwave therapy may be the answer you’ve been searching for. This innovative technique uses targeted shockwaves to promote the healing of injured tissues and provide relief from stubborn conditions like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, and more. At Centennial Foot & Ankle, shockwave therapy is just one of the many services we offer that are designed to relieve your pain, improve your mobility, and get you back to making the most of each day.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy may sound a bit scary but don’t worry. It does not involve the use of electricity on the skin at all.
Shockwave therapy, also known as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), uses focused radial or acoustic shockwaves generated outside the body to penetrate through the skin to the injured area. The shockwaves create controlled trauma at the cellular level, initiating an inflammatory response that increases blood flow and prompts the body to kick its natural healing mechanisms into gear. New blood vessels form, bone cells proliferate in areas of low bone density, and tissue regeneration is stimulated to repair damaged tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues.
Shockwave therapy is recommended for people with long-term pain that doesn’t go away with traditional treatments, such as pain medicine, injections, orthotics, and physical therapy. It reignites the healing process, which treats pain and inflammation that leads to foot and ankle problems.
What to Expect When Getting Shockwave Therapy
Las Vegas podiatrist Dr. David Biesinger will make sure you are comfortable before starting the therapy. Gel will be applied to your skin to enhance the transmission of shockwaves.
Dr. Biesinger or a technician then activates the device to generate impulses of shockwaves that penetrate through the skin to the targeted tissues. You may feel some discomfort or tingling sensations. Some describe it as pressing on a bruise or being snapped with a rubber band. Dr. Biesinger can adjust intensity levels to manage any discomfort.
Treatment sessions typically last 5 to 25 minutes, and you can walk out of the office immediately after with no downtime or immobility.
By penetrating scar tissue, shockwave therapy reinjures the affected area to generate new cells, which decreases inflammation and promotes healing. Most patients begin to feel the results of shockwave treatment after three sessions. We will advise you on activity modifications, stretches, or other measures that can be used to support the healing process.
Who Can Benefit From Shockwave Therapy?
People experiencing a number of foot and ankle conditions can find relief through shockwave therapy. Some of the most common that we see in our office include:
- Chronic heel pain. Heel pain with no known cause that persists long-term can be treated with shockwave therapy.
- Plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis involves inflammation along the bottom of the foot and causes stabbing pain, usually when walking or standing for long periods.
- Heel spurs. Heel spurs are bony growths that occur on the back of the heel. They are usually caused by excessive stress on foot ligaments.
- Achilles tendinitis. Achilles tendinitis is caused by overuse of the Achilles tendon. It is typically an injury seen in runners.
- Bursitis. Bursitis is a painful condition that is caused by repetitive joint movements. It can affect ankles as well as the knees and shoulders.
- Nonhealing fractures. A fracture that hasn’t healed on its own after some time can benefit from shockwave therapy.
- Stress fractures. Low-intensity shockwave therapy can promote the healing of stress fractures, which are tiny cracks in the bone caused by repetitive stress.
- Ankle sprains. Shockwave therapy can relieve soreness, bruising, and swelling from ankle sprains.