Plantar fasciitis is an ailment involving the plantar fascia, the ligament which supports the arch of the foot and connects the toes to the heel. When the plantar fascia is strained, it develops microscopic tears which cause swelling and pain. Plantar fasciitis is most common in people who:

• Spend a great deal of time on their feet
• Tend to roll their feet inward when they walk
• Have very high aches or very flat feet
• Are overweight.
• Wear ill-fitting or worn out shoes
• Run a great deal
• Have legs of unequal length

The most pronounced symptom of plantar fasciitis is sharp, stabbing pain, which may be nearly unbearable when getting out of bed, or when first standing up after sitting for long periods. This pain usually subsides to some degree after a few steps. Other symptoms that some report include:

• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Tingling and numbness

If left unaddressed, the symptoms and underlying issues will continue to worsen, ultimately causing the rupture of the fascia, which is usually accompanied by a great deal of swelling, acute pain in the sole, and popping or clicking sound.

Shockwave Therapy Treatment

Plantar fasciitis, like many common injuries to the feet and ankles, involves the inflammation and tearing of soft tissue, in this case the plantar fascia. Quite commonly, injuries of this type can be effectively treated with shockwave therapy (ESWT).

Shockwave therapy is a non-surgical, non-invasive treatment methodology which uses focused acoustic waves to massage and stimulate injured tissues, improving blood flow and nerve growth, reducing swelling, and stimulating natural healing processes. Within one to two sessions, patients with plantar fasciitis often report significant improvements in pain.

Continued treatments further reduce swelling and irritation, giving the fascia the opportunity it needs to heal. After the complete treatment regimen, most patients report that all or nearly all of their pain is gone.

MYOSYTETM’s shockwave therapy is an FDA-cleared treatment shown to be effective in treating plantar fasciitis and other inflammatory disorders of the feet and ankles. Thanks to its non-invasive nature, ESWT does not carry the risks surgery, painkillers, and other common forms of treatment carry.

Other therapies, such as pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMFT) and laser therapy are also sometimes used to treat plantar fasciitis and other ailments of the feet and ankles.