It’s a mouthful, but it’s also a very promising therapy for some of the foot and other body part issues. Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy is a nonintrusive way to treat the inflammation of the body’s tendons. Defined as a 4-10-minute procedure, ESWT takes place outside the body, therefore avoiding any complications due to infections or extended recovery time. Your podiatrist will use an ultrasound to locate the area in need of treatment and your comfort throughout the procedure is very important to the doctors. Conditions that can be treated with ESWT include:

• Plantar Fasciitis – inflammation of the underside of the heel• Achilles tendonitis – swelling of the Achilles tendon• Tennis elbow – elbow tendon inflammation• Shoulder tendonitis – inflammation of the shoulder tendon• Tendonitis of the knee – inflammation of the knee’s tendons and/or ligaments• Heel spurs – increases healing • Diabetic injuries – helps promote healingExtracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, similar to treatment for kidney stones called lithotripsy, employs pulsated sound waves that creates an inflammatory response at the tendon which triggers the body to naturally heal the inflamed area. Usually applied for 4-5 minutes, ESWT starts at about 1000 pulses and is increased up to 5000 pulses. Recovery is very quick with the patient going home the same day and usually able to resume normal activities. Normal treatments typically include six sessions. If you have had the condition for more than 6 months, it may be necessary to have more than 6 treatments. If you’ve tried a series of other treatments for plantar fasciitis or another inflamed tendon but have not found relief, you may want to try Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy. Our podiatrists are ready to diagnose your conditions and apply the most proper treatment for you. Make an appointment with Dr. Melissa Robitaille or Dr. Todd Newsom at Atlantic Foot and Ankle Specialists, 114 Canal St, Suite 703, Pooler, GA, 31322. Call us at (912) 988-3323.