Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT): Five Reasons to Consider

At Kansas City Foot and Ankle, our doctors utilize ESWT to treat common foot and ankle conditions.  Let’s talk about five reasons to consider Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT).

First, ESWT is commonly used to treat the following inflammatory conditions:

• Plantar Fasciitis (heel and arch pain)
• Achilles tendinitis
• Other tendinitis
• Joint pain and inflammation such as Capsulitis
• Morton’s Neuroma

Second, there are many means to treat painful foot and ankle conditions.  Below are five reasons to consider ESWT for your chronic pain:

1. Healing:

   • Your body has a harder time healing chronic inflammatory conditions than more acute conditions. ESWT helps trigger the healing response needed to get your pain under control and on the road to recovery.  ESWT improves local circulation to the affected area which in turn increases delivery of nutrients to the inflamed and damaged tissues.  Subsequently, this will stimulate the repair process and relieve pain.

2. Relieve Pain:

   • Studies have clinically proven ESWT to be safe, and to effectively relieve pain.   ESWT also increases mobility.  We administer low-energy shock wave treatments as a series of four weekly treatments.  Since we do not use injections, medications or invasive procedures, there is no need for anesthesia.  After each treatment you will be able to wear your normal shoes and resume your regular daily activities immediately!

3. Non-Invasive:

   • One of the most attractive aspects of ESWT is that it is completely non-invasive.  Open procedures can create open wounds; causing necessary wound care.  Additionally, open procedures can leave unsightly and/or painful scars.

4. Persistent Pain:

   • ESWT can be effective even if more traditional treatment measures have been performed and the pain persists. Typically, traditional measures will include oral anti-inflammatory medications, ice application, cortisone injections, physical therapy, and custom orthotic shoe inserts.

5. Avoid Surgery:

   • ESWT can keep you out of the operating room. It is a very effective, non-invasive treatment for many chronic foot and ankle conditions.  And, without surgery, ESWT can help get you healed and back to your active lifestyle!

We hope that these five reasons to consider Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) were helpful!  Foot and ankle pain is not normal.  If you are experiencing pain that will not go away, please see one of our specialists to see if ESWT is right for you.