Breaking Through Plantar Fasciitis: Why I've Made Shockwave Therapy My Go-To Treatment

Contact me about Shockwave Therapy for your soft tissue healing

After three and a half decades (all in Mountain View/Los Altos) of treating patients with foot pain, I can confidently say that plantar fasciitis remains one of the most stubborn conditions I encounter in my practice. For years, I watched patients struggle through months of stretching routines, cortisone injections, and custom orthotics with mixed results. That frustration led me to explore extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) about eight years ago, and I haven't looked back since. This non-invasive treatment delivers focused acoustic waves directly to the inflamed plantar fascia, stimulating the body's natural healing response by increasing blood flow and promoting tissue regeneration. What makes it particularly appealing to me as a practitioner is that it addresses the root cause of the inflammation rather than simply masking the pain.

The results I've witnessed have been remarkable. In my experience, approximately 75-80% of my plantar fasciitis patients see significant improvement after a series of three to five shockwave treatments, typically spaced a week apart. Unlike cortisone injections, which can weaken the fascia over time, Shockwave Therapy actually strengthens the tissue as it heals. I've had patients who couldn't walk to their mailbox without wincing return to running marathons within months of completing their treatment series. The therapy works particularly well when combined with proper biomechanical assessment and corrective exercises, which is why I always incorporate a comprehensive treatment approach that addresses any underlying foot mechanics issues.

What I love most about offering Shockwave Therapy is giving my patients hope when they've often exhausted other options. Many come to me after being told they need surgery or that they'll simply have to "live with" their heel pain. The treatment itself takes only about 10-15 minutes per session, and while some patients experience mild discomfort during the procedure, it's well-tolerated and requires no downtime. As someone who has dedicated her career to helping people move pain-free, adding Shockwave Therapy to my practice has been one of the most rewarding advances I've embraced. It's allowed me to offer genuine relief to patients who might otherwise face months or years of chronic pain, and that's exactly why I became a chiropractor in the first place.