Lately I have been seeing an influx of patients suffering from plantar fasciitis. An incredibly painful condition that often can persist for months if not years, plantar fasciitis can be life altering.

Some common signs and symptoms of plantar fasciitis are:

• Sharp pain in your heel or bottom of foot with your first step in the morning
• Sharp pain in heel or bottom of foot after long periods of sitting
• Gradual improvement of pain as morning progresses or with activity • Increase in pain after long periods of activity

The cause of plantar fasciitis is often multi-factorial and complex. Ultimately the soft tissue that supports the arch of your foot is over stretched and torn or damaged. This is usually due to adopting less than ideal postures (high heels), incorrect foot / hip alignment, or various other bio-mechanical anomalies. Thankfully we now have a quick fix. Thanks to the advent of radial shockwave therapy, we have been able to significantly decrease our patient’s symptoms in as little as 1 – 3 treatments and often have them feeling 100% in less than 6 weeks (3-5 treatments total).

Shockwave therapy breaks down adhesions and scar tissue that increase the tension on your plantar fascia. It also resolves any knots in the muscles and allows for relaxation of the soft tissues on the bottom of the foot and lower leg. Over 4 – 6 weeks after treatment, your body will continue to improve the tissue quality of your plantar fascia, making it more resilient and less likely to become injured in the future. For more information regarding shockwave therapy or plantar fasciitis, please contact us. Josh Shaw, RMT and Energize Health Clinic Owner