Podiatrist - Servicing (Chicago),Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin
30 S. Michigan Ave., Ste. 503
Chicago, IL 60603
(877) ADV-F00T (877-238-3668)
Extracorporeal Shock Wave
Treatment for Chronic Proximal Plantar Fasciitis with the HealthTronics OssaTron
What is extracorporeal shock wave (ESW) treatment?
"Extracorporeal" means "outside the body". Shock waves are created by very strong acoustic (sound) energy. Your ESW treatment will be performed with a device called the OssaTron.
The OssaTron is a shock wave generator very similar to he shock wave devices used to treat kidney stones without surgery.
The shock waves are created by a spark plug that is enclosed in a soft plastic dome filled with water. During ESW treatment, this dome is placed close against the heel so that the shock waves pass through the dome to the heel. ESW treatment has recently been found to be effective for treating chronic proximal plantar fasciitis, a condition that causes pain in the heel of the affected foot and is sometimes called "heel spurs"
Who should consider having ESW treatment for proximal plantar fasciitis?
ESW treatment with the OssaTron is for patients who have had heel pain for at least six months and who have tried other methods for treating their heel pain. In the OssaTron clinical study, the treated patients had failed to respond to at least three attempts at conservative treatment: two prior courses of non-invasive treatment, including physical therapy and the use of an orthotic device; and one prior course of pharmacological treatment.
ESW treatment with the OssaTron is for patients who can tolerate anesthesia prior to the ESW procedure. ESW treatment with the OssaTron is painful.
ESW treatment has been proven over 80% effective at eliminating chronic heel pain without requiring surgery.