Are you taking Aleve or Motrin for your chronic heel pain so that you can just get through your day? Are you worried about what it is doing to your stomach and kidneys? We have options like shockwave to help you stop taking NSAIDs. Ibuprofen is great for acute pain, but when pain is there longer than 2-3 weeks it is no longer effective. Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT), also known as shockwave, uses mechanical energy (not electric shocks) to penetrate chronically injured tissue breaking up scar tissue creating a new blood supply to heal the soft tissue naturally. Patients with tendonitis and heel pain often get stuck in a chronic pain cycle. Radial Pulse Therapy uses a handpiece to generate repetitive mechanical pressure waves that travel into the surrounding tissue, with the waves spreading as it penetrates the deeper tissue. The shockwaves turn a chronic injury into an acute injury triggering the body to heal itself.
Radial Pulse Therapy is not painful and has an analgesic effect during the treatment. The painful areas often get numb as they are being worked on. Often patients say the treatment feels good!
Benefits of Radial Pulse Therapy
Highly safe and effective alternative to surgery
Fast and convenient performed in our office
A superior alternative to steroid injections, NSAID's, and other medications
Works synergistically with other modalities like taping and orthotics.
Short and long-term blood flow improvement
Alternative to physical therapy
Conditions Treated
Achilles tendonitis
Plantar fasciitis - heel pain
Posterior tibial tendonitis
Sesamoiditis
Hallux Rigidus – arthritis of the big toe joint
Shin splints
Posterior Tibial tendonitis
How long does treatment take?
Radial Pulse Therapy treatment takes 5-6 minutes depending on the area being treated. Treatments are once per week generally for 5 treatments total depending on how long the condition has been present. We often use Kinesio tape in conjunction with an OTC or custom orthotic as you near the end of treatment. You may continue to exercise during the course of therapy.
If you have foot or ankle troubles please call Michele Kurlanski, DPM at Lighthouse Foot and Ankle Center. Dr. Kurlanski offers expert and professional podiatry services in Cumberland County, Maine. Please call us today at 207-774-0028 to schedule your appointment in our Scarborough office.
