Shockwave Therapy for Foot Pain

What You Need To Know About Shockwave Therapy

Learn how Shockwave Therapy works and what conditions it can treat.

Understanding Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave Therapy is a noninvasive, FDA-approved technique used worldwide to safely treat bone and soft tissue disorders around the foot and ankle. It’s proven effective for Achilles tendonitis, tendonitis in the arch, plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), and incorrectly healed fractured bones.

The treatment works by sending sound wave pulses into the injured area, creating a microtrauma, or tiny controlled injury, in the soft tissue or bone. That controlled injury stimulates your body’s own healing response and improves blood circulation. New blood vessel formation follows, helping healing cells migrate to the injured tissue and making this a fundamental part of the treatment process.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of foot pain, affecting roughly 2 million people who seek treatment each year. The cause is often unknown, and pain frequently starts suddenly without warning. About 90% of cases resolve with conservative care, but the remaining 10% become chronic and benefit from more advanced options like this one.

Acute injuries respond well to RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation, though injuries can become resistant to healing over time. If you’ve tried conservative care for several months without lasting relief, our providers can evaluate whether this treatment is an appropriate next step for you.

Treatment Process, Recovery, and Results

The treatment is administered with a hand-held applicator over 3 sessions, each taking approximately 5 to 10 minutes and scheduled 1 to 2 weeks apart. It’s well tolerated and doesn’t usually require anesthesia, nerve block, or sedation, so you’ll walk out able to resume normal weight-bearing activity.

Because the procedure is noninvasive, downtime is minimal and recovery is swift. Some patients experience mild discomfort, redness around the treatment area, or bruising, which usually resolves within a few days, and no bandages or casts are needed.

Healing rates vary, but most patients feel significantly better within a month, with full benefits developing over up to three months as new tissue forms. Published research demonstrates statistically significant improvements in patient-reported heel pain in over 85% of study participants, with consistent results reported across studies.

Patients who prefer fewer visits may consider a higher-intensity, single-session protocol. Because it delivers more energy per session, the foot is anesthetized for the procedure, and it often resolves the condition in one treatment. Our team will work with you and your insurance to determine if this option is covered and help you decide which approach best fits your situation.