A Shocking Way To Treat Heel Pain
If you’ve been experiencing heel pain, it’s time to step into our office so we can help your heel feel good again. Whether you have plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, heel spurs, or other heel problems, there are treatment options that can address all of these foot woes!
One of these options is Zimmer shockwave therapy.
Zimmer Shockwave Heel Pain Treatment
Some treatment plans for soft-tissue injuries include the use of the Zimmer machine to administer shockwave therapy.
Zimmer shockwave therapy:
- Has an 85% success rate for pain relief.
- Comes without the risks, complications, or recovery time of surgery.
- Can be done in-office.
- Is painless.
While “shockwave” can make this treatment sound intense, you’ll only feel a slight pulsing sensation, at most. In many cases, the heel pain therapy provided by the Zimmer machine has the same success rate as steroid shots or surgery, without the downtime and inconvenience of those treatments.
What is Shockwave Therapy?
According to the Mayo Clinic, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), also known as radial shockwave therapy, is “a non-invasive treatment that involves the delivery of shock waves to injured soft tissue to reduce pain and promote healing.”
It works by triggering the body’s own self-healing process. With the treatment, patients can experience increased blood flow and oxygen to the affected area. This allows for the body to more quickly repair the soft tissue damage caused by common foot and ankle injuries. The shockwave treatment can also dissolve calcific deposits, such as heel spurs.
This FDA-cleared technology sends low-frequency shockwaves to the heel. It is gentle enough that the treatment can be used on anyone who needs it including athletes, children, and seniors.
What Heel Conditions Does Shockwave Therapy Treat?
Plantar Fasciitis
A common condition that causes pain in the bottom of your heel, plantar fasciitis, occurs when the ligament (plantar fascia) becomes irritated and inflamed. This can happen due to high arches, increased activity, or impact activities like running. It can also increase your risk of developing heel spurs if not treated.
Heel Spurs
Heel spurs (bone spurs in the heel) are bony growths of calcium deposits that poke out from your heel bone inside your foot, which may cause pain and difficulty walking. Heel spurs can appear due to wearing improper footwear or running on hard surfaces or from untreated plantar fasciitis, and are permanent unless treated by a professional.
Achilles Tendonitis
The Achilles tendon connects the calf muscles to the heel bone and can be prone to inflammation if overused through excessive walking, running, jumping, and climbing. This injury is slow to heal on its own, and there is a risk of the tendon rupturing if not addressed with a specific treatment plan.
How Does Shockwave Therapy Work?
Zimmer shockwave therapy starts with the machine itself. The Zimmer machine is a unit with a small applicator that looks like an ultrasound probe. This hand-held device translates kinetic energy into mechanical, impact energy. The energy transmitted from the probe goes straight to the inflamed tissue within the heel to promote healing.
This is thanks to unique radial pulses which send energy deep into the damaged soft tissues that traditional therapy techniques cannot reach. The body’s natural healing process is activated because the treatment expands blood vessels and increases blood flow and oxygen levels, making it easier for the body to repair the damaged tissue.
The shockwave treatment results in decreased inflammation and the regeneration of damaged cells and tissues which means optimal pain relief for heels.
What To Expect During a Shockwave Therapy Procedure
Zimmer shockwave treatment typically includes four to six, 5-minute treatment sessions spaced one week apart.
Shockwave Therapy Side Effects and Procedure Steps
Typically, you won’t notice any adverse side effects during your shockwave treatment sessions.
During a Zimmer shockwave therapy session, your podiatrist will:
- Locate the inflamed area.
- Apply gel to the heel.
- Engage the Zimmer shockwave probe.
- Clean the area after treatment.
Although the procedure itself is painless, you may (depending on how injured your heel was prior to treatment) experience mild pain, redness, or swelling for a few days afterward. These minor side effects of the shockwave treatment mean good news for your feet! Your body has kicked into overdrive and is working harder to speed up the healing process. After your treatment sessions, the podiatrist will evaluate your heel in a quick follow-up appointment to ensure your treatment plan was successful.
Zimmer Shockwave Therapy with The Foot & Ankle Group
If you’re tired of heel pain, it may be time to consider shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis and other foot problems. This heel pain treatment is a non-invasive, relieving option for many patients, however, it’s not the only option.
As the leading professionals for the health of foot and ankle care in Southwest Florida, we pride ourselves on providing an array of innovative treatment options for heel pain.
If you’ve injured your foot or are suffering from chronic ankle and heel pain, visit one of our locations nearest to you. Our Zimmer shockwave therapy is available at our Bonita Springs, Cape Coral, Fort Myers, and Lehigh Acres offices.
After booking your appointment, we’ll work with you to create a customized, comprehensive treatment plan that addresses your concerns and offers you the best methods of alleviating your pain at the source.
If you’re ready to get rid of your heel pain safely and effectively, contact us today. We’ll get you back on your feet in no time!
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