Shockwave Therapy for Foot Pain: Assessment & Options
Shockwave therapy delivers acoustic pulses through the skin. It may be discussed for selected persistent foot or tendon problems after assessment. It is one treatment option, not a substitute for finding the cause of pain.
When might it be considered?
For persistent plantar fascia-related heel pain, a clinician may consider shockwave after reviewing earlier care and the symptom pattern. The AAOS plantar fasciitis guide discusses it among treatment options. Not every painful heel has plantar fasciitis, and not every patient is suitable for shockwave.
Read our heel pain and Achilles tendon pain pages to understand the concerns assessed at the clinic.
What should I ask before treatment?
- What diagnosis or working explanation are we treating?
- Why is shockwave being considered at this stage?
- What alternatives are reasonable?
- What discomfort or side effects should I expect?
- How will we review progress and decide whether to continue?
- What are the fees and likely insurance requirements?
Tell the clinician about your medicines, relevant medical conditions and previous treatments. The discussion should include suitability and precautions. Avoid judging a plan only by the number of sessions advertised elsewhere.
Part of a broader plan
Depending on the assessment, care may also involve footwear, gradual activity changes, exercises or other options. Outcomes vary; no fixed number of sessions guarantees recovery. Ask how your day-to-day activity should change and which symptoms should prompt an earlier review.
Appointments at Locke
Our chiropodists, Navraj (Nav) Sekhon and Elias Mohamed, can assess your foot concern in Hamilton or Stoney Creek. Bring your usual shoes and a summary of what you have tried. If pain follows a significant injury, you cannot bear weight, or your foot is hot, red and swollen with fever, seek urgent medical assessment rather than waiting for a routine therapy visit.
Book an assessment Call 289-269-1018
General patient information. Recommendations depend on an individual assessment.