Sore heel?
Heel pain is the most common musculoskeletal condition that podiatrists treat. It is estimated that approximately 10 per cent of the population will suffer heel pain at some point in their lifetime.
Heel pain is a generic term used to describe a number of conditions that affect the heel. These conditions include Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, heel spurs and severs disease. The most common condition being plantar fasciitis.
The plantar fascia is a strong band of connective tissue that runs from the sole of the heel to the ball of the foot. Its role in the foot structure is to provide structural integrity and strength to the arch of the foot.
Heel pain is a result of OVERLOAD. This may be tensile (tug and pull) or compressive (given its location under the heel). It is important to diagnose the cause, so it can be managed and addressed into the future.
If left untreated this condition can lead to tearing or potential rupture of the plantar fascia requiring surgery and months long rehabilitation. The sooner we assess and treat heel pain, the quicker the recovery.
How does shock wave therapy work?
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is the latest technology to treat chronic plantar fasciitis. Hunter Podiatry Services is the first and only clinic in the Newcastle and Hunter region to employ the Swiss Doloclast ESWT, the industry leader for Shockwave Therapy. It is a non invasive treatment modality used when the patient has failed to respond to traditional treatment options such as stretching, icing, footwear modification, activity modification, taping and orthoses.
ESWT applies a high-energy acoustic pulse into the inflamed tissue of the affected area. This energy pulse results in increased metabolic activity around the inflamed tissue by stimulating the body’s natural healing process, delivering a reduction in inflammation, accelerated healing and a reduction in pain.
In most cases, 3 treatments placed a week apart will be required to successfully treat the majority of patients. A reduction in symptoms is often experienced after just 1 visit, however it is important to understand that the healing process continues for up to 6 weeks following the final treatment.
We are excited to be able to offer this treatment at an extremely affordable rate. In most instance if you are covered by a private health fund or have an EPC (Medicare) plan in place you will be able to claim a rebate. We currently believe our ESWT treatment fees are the lowest in NSW if not Australia.