Shockwave therapy for heel pain: What it is and when to consider it

Thanks to advances in modern medicine, heel pain can now be treated without surgery or medication. One such treatment is Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT).

Although the name may suggest an electric shock, the procedure does not involve electricity. It is an advanced physiotherapy technique in which a specialised device delivers high-energy sound waves to the specific area causing pain. For chronic pain conditions, the treatment has a reported success rate of around 80–85 per cent.

When excessive stress or tiny tears develop in the plantar fascia, the thick band of tissue on the sole of the foot, it can lead to chronic inflammation. Shockwave therapy helps in three main ways:

Improves blood circulation: The sound waves stimulate the formation of new blood vessels in the affected area, increasing the supply of oxygen and nutrients.

Promotes tissue repair: The therapy accelerates the body''s natural healing process, helping damaged tissue regenerate more quickly.

Breaks down calcium deposits: If heel spurs have caused calcium build-up, shockwave therapy can help break down these deposits.

Treatment process and duration: Shockwave therapy does not require anaesthesia or numbing injections. Depending on the severity of the condition, patients typically need three to five sessions. Each session lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and treatments are usually administered once a week.

While shockwave therapy is generally considered very safe, it is not recommended for pregnant women, patients with pacemakers, individuals with severe bleeding disorders and cancer patients.

Therefore, it is important to consult a qualified physiotherapist before undergoing the treatment.

Md Saidur Rahman, Chief Consultant and Chairman, Reactive Physiotherapy Centre, Shaheed Tajuddin Ahmed Avenue, Tejgaon, Dhaka.