Plantar Fasciitis is chronic pain on the bottom of your foot that tends to get worse when you get up to walk after sitting for a while or after you get out of bed in the morning. Typically the first few steps are the worst and then it starts to feel better.
Standing and walking a lot throughout the day can also increase the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
Needless to say, plantar fasciitis can be quite debilitating. If you have dealt with or are dealing with PF, you know what I am saying.
There are a number of treatments for plantar fasciitis in use and to be honest, it depends on what type of provider you go to as to which treatment you will receive.
For instance, if you go to an orthopedic doctor or a foot doctor, you will most likely be given a shot or two of cortisone. Cortisone basically stops inflammation and the pain associated with it.
For some people this can be a near miracle cure but for a lot of people the effects are temporary and in some cases leave the underlying problem in even worse shape than before, after the effects of the cortisone wear off.
If you go to a physical therapist you will most likely be given exercises and perhaps some manual therapy which may or may not solve the problem.
And of course there is also the special sock that you can sleep in, which is pretty hit or miss on whether people find relief from them.
A relatively new treatment has come out for plantar fasciitis called Shockwave or Acoustic Wave therapy.
Before I explain how Shockwave works, allow me to explain what is happening to the tissue that causes the pain associated with PF.
Plantar Fasciitis is caused by degeneration of the tissues that run from your heal to your toes. This degeneration is such that tissues becomes weaker as scar tissue slowly replaces normal tissue over time.
One of the characteristics of chronic plantar fasciitis is reduced blood flow to the tissues caused by the degenerated tissue. Blood flow is necessary for proper repair and regeneration of soft tissues.
This degenerated tissue is more prone to tearing and is also slower to heal because . . . tissue requires blood flow to heal.
Now back to the Shockwave. Shockwave Therapy has several important effects on the tissues being treated including:
1. Reduces pain and inflammation
2. Increases blood flow
3. Increases metabolic activity in the tissues being treated
In terms that you and I can understand . . . The shockwave reduces your pain AND helps INCREASE your TISSUE HEALING so that the pain doesn’t come back in a couple of weeks.
You might be wondering what is involved with a Shockwave treatment. Shockwave treatments take about 10-15 minutes, there are no shots or medications required, there is no recovery time (so you can go back to work or play right away), and there is an 80% success rate.
To learn more about The Shockwave . . . Click HERE.
If you or a friend are struggling with plantar fasciitis and you want to get to the root cause of your pain so that you can put it behind you, call us at (417) 598-0080 or click the button below to schedule an appointment today.
This information should not be substituted for medical or chiropractic advice. Any and all health care concerns, decisions, and actions must be done through the advice and counsel of a health care professional who is familiar with your updated medical history.
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