Your feet carry you through life, so the pain of plantar fasciitis can be a real challenge! It can make it difficult for you to walk, exercise, move around at work, and just live your life. Fortunately, modern medicine has therapies that can help your body to heal and get you on the path toward pain-free feet. One particularly effective combination of treatments involves the use of shockwave therapy and MLS laser therapy.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave therapy uses targeted acoustic waves to stimulate tissue repair in areas that may not heal well on their own. For plantar fasciitis, this treatment reaches the thick band of tissue along the bottom of your foot and helps trigger a fresh healing response. It does so by encouraging increased blood flow, and the blood brings important healing factors and nutrients with it. Studies support extracorporeal shockwave therapy as a noninvasive option for chronic heel pain that does not improve with basic care.
What Is MLS Laser Therapy?
MLS laser therapy delivers specific wavelengths of light to painful tissue with the goal of reducing discomfort and supporting recovery. It works by instigating better oxygen metabolism within cells. In turn, this increases cellular energy, reduces inflammation, and encourages healing.
In plantar fasciitis care, laser treatment has a strong reputation for good results. In fact, podiatrists and clinical studies suggest an 80 – 90% success rate in reducing heel pain.
How They Work Together to Treat Plantar Fasciitis
When your physician combines shockwave therapy with MLS laser therapy, you may benefit from two different paths to relief. Shockwave therapy helps restart repair in stubborn tissue, while laser therapy helps reduce pain and support tissue recovery. The laser can also soothe inflammation after the mechanical stimulation provided by the shockwaves. This combination can make it easier for you to stay active, follow a home treatment plan, and return to normal function with less discomfort.
Shockwave therapy and laser therapy can often be combined into a single appointment. Neither treatment requires a lot of time, so the entire process can be completed in less than an hour in most cases. Your doctor will let you know how many sessions you should attend in order to optimize your results.
Are you looking for a non-surgical method to reduce the pain of plantar fasciitis? A combination of shockwave therapy and MLS laser therapy might be right for you! Talk to a qualified orthopedic physician to learn more.
Meet the Practice
Dr. James Pinkston, DO, is board-certified in neuromusculoskeletal medicine. He is passionate about the use of minimally invasive therapies to promote healing, increase mobility, and minimize the painful symptoms of orthopedic problems. If you have plantar fasciitis, he and our team would be pleased to welcome you into our office for a consultation. To request an appointment, contact Asheville Non-Surgical Orthopedics at 828-417-9913.