What Is Shockwave Therapy? Shockwave therapy (also known as ESWT: extracorporeal shock wave therapy) is a non-invasive treatment that uses focused sound waves to stimulate healing in damaged soft tissue. It is especially effective for chronic tendon issues in the foot and ankle.

What Can It Treat? Shockwave therapy is commonly used for:

• Plantar fasciitis (heel pain)

• Achilles tendinitis

• Peroneal tendinitis (outside of the ankle)

• Posterior tibial tendinitis (inside of the ankle)

• Extensor tendinitis (top of the foot)

• Chronic foot or ankle pain from overuse

How Does It Work? Shockwave therapy helps restart the body’s healing process by:

• Increasing blood flow

• Stimulating tissue repair and collagen production

• Reducing inflammation and pain sensitivity

• Breaking up small scar tissue or calcifications

What to Expect During Treatment:

• Treatment is done in the office, no anesthesia required

• Each session lasts about 10–20 minutes

• Most patients receive 3 to 6 sessions

• Some mild discomfort may be felt during treatment, but no downtime is required afterward

Is It Effective? Studies have shown:

• Up to 80–90% of patients with plantar fasciitis report long-term relief

• High success rates with other chronic tendinitis conditions

• Many patients experience improvement within the first few sessions

Who Should Consider Shockwave Therapy? You may be a good candidate if:

• You’ve had tendon or heel pain for more than 3 months

• Conservative treatments haven’t helped

• You want to avoid surgery or steroid injections

• You’re active and want to return to regular movement without pain

Who Should Avoid It?

• Patients with complete tendon tears

• Those with pacemakers or certain nerve/vascular conditions

• Pregnant patients

Next Steps If you’re dealing with persistent foot or ankle pain, talk to your provider about whether shockwave therapy is right for you. It could be the non-surgical, long-term solution you’ve been looking for.

For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our office.