Feel free to browse our website to educate yourself on various podiatric conditions we see on a daily basis in our office. You may use the "Patient Library" function on the lower left to look at common topics, or use the search function for other topics not listed.
We want our patients to be informed about podiatric problems and treatments, because informed patients make better decisions about their health and well being. That is why we've included this extensive section on our web site covering the full array of topics associated with podiatry and podiatric diagnoses and treatments. We encourage you to look through these pages whenever you have an interest or concern about your feet.
In addition, the following websites are hightly recommended for more podiatric information:
- American Podiatric Medical Association
- Florida Podiatric Medical Association
- American Academy of Podiatric Sports Medicine
- American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons
- Foot Physicians.com
- American College of Foot & Ankle Orthopedics & Medicine
- American Board of Podiatric Surgery
- American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) is used to treat chronic heel pain (plantar fasciitis). "Extracorporeal" means "outside of the body." During this noninvasive procedure, sonic waves are directed at the area of pain using a device similar to that currently used in nonsurgical treatment of kidney stones.
Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy is prescribed for patients who have experienced plantar fasciitis for an extended period of time -- six months or more -- and have not benefited from other conservative treatments. The brief procedure lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia and/or "twilight" anesthesia. Strong sound waves are directed at and penetrate the heel area to stimulate a healing response by the body. ESWT is performed on an outpatient basis. Although there are no bandages, someone will need to drive the patient home.
People who are not candidates for ESWT include pregnant women and individuals with neurological foot disease, vascular foot disease, pacemakers, or people taking medications that interfere with blood clotting (such as Coumadin).
This therapy is a safe and effective alternative treatment for heel pain and only requires a short recovery time. Clinical studies show a 70 percent success rate for treatment of plantar fasciitis using Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy.