Foot and heel pain, especially in the form of conditions such as plantar fasciitis, can be debilitating and significantly impact a person’s daily life. Heel pain is one of our specialities here at Perform Podiatry, and we offer innovative treatments to support your recovery in ways that many clinics don’t have on offer: with the addition of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) and Shockwave Therapy as part of your overall management plan. 

Both shockwave and laser therapy offer unique benefits, and can be used to enhance and optimise treatment outcomes, depending on your specific needs and circumstances. Here’s a look into whether these therapies may help you get the results you want in the shortest timeframe.

 

Low-Level Laser Therapy For Foot Pain

What is laser therapy?

Laser therapy uses low-intensity laser light to stimulate healing in the body. The specific laser we use, called the Nu-Tek laser, emits a precise kind of light that penetrates the skin and underlying tissues. This light is monochromatic, coherent, and polarised, meaning it is focused and aligned in one direction, which maximises your benefits.

 

How does laser therapy work to help with foot pain?

We’ve detailed everything you need to know about the low-level laser here, but to sum it up, when the laser light (which is produced by the device at a very specific beneficial wavelength) reaches the tissues, it triggers a series of beneficial biological processes. These include helping improve blood flow and enhancing the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues. These actions speed up the natural healing process. Additionally, laser light stimulates the growth of new blood vessels (angiogenesis), boosts enzyme activity, and alters the levels of various chemicals and hormones in the body to reduce pain and inflammation – which is why many people notice a reduction in pain from the first session.

 

Benefits of LLLT

Laser therapy offers several significant benefits:

• Pain relief – the effects of laser help to numb nerve cells, reducing pain quickly (and in some cases, almost immediately).
• Reduced inflammation – the effects of laser decrease swelling and redness in tissues, which also improves a person’s function and mobility.
• Faster and enhanced healing – by stimulating cell growth and repair, laser therapy speeds up the healing of injuries so you can return to doing the things you love.
• Non-invasive and painless – laser treatment is safe, non-invasive, and painless, making it the preferred option for many patients.
• Versatile – laser helps with treating a variety of conditions, including plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, arthritis, muscle and ligament injuries, and chronic pain conditions.

 

Shockwave Therapy For Foot Pain

What is shockwave therapy?

Shockwave therapy involves the application of high-energy sound waves (referred to as ‘shockwaves’) to an injured area. These shockwaves are generated by a handheld device placed strategically over the skin (so it stays non-invasive), with the waves penetrating the tissues to stimulate healing. We’ve detailed everything you need to know about shockwave therapy here.

 

How does shockwave work to help with foot pain?

When the shockwaves penetrate down into the tissues, they create microtrauma (controlled damage) in the targeted tissues. This stimulates the body’s natural healing processes by increasing blood flow, breaking down scar tissue, and promoting the regeneration of tendons and other soft tissues. The therapy also triggers the release of growth factors and the formation of new blood vessels, enhancing the repair and healing of tissues​. Simply put, your body repairs better and faster.

 

Benefits of Shockwave Therapy

Shockwave provides several key advantages:

• It offers significant pain reduction, especially in chronic (longstanding) conditions.
• It promotes and supports the regeneration of tendons and soft tissues, making it effective for conditions like tendonitis.
• Like laser therapy, shockwave is non-invasive and does not penetrate the skin or require surgery.
• Patients often experience faster relief and improved function in fewer treatment sessions.

 

Laser Therapy vs Shockwave: Which Is Best?

When deciding between shockwave therapy or laser treatment and which could be best for your pain or injury, there are a few things to consider:

The mechanism of action of the device

Laser uses light energy to penetrate tissues, reduce inflammation, and promote cell regeneration. It is particularly beneficial for acute inflammation and pain in conditions like plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinopathy, among other chronic conditions, including arthritis. On the other hand, shockwave uses mechanical sound waves to break down scar tissue, increase blood flow, and stimulate healing processes. It is highly effective for treating tendon and ligament injuries, specifically longstanding injuries, such as Achilles tendinopathy, and conditions involving calcification.

The treatment experience

Laser therapy is painless and can be used frequently with no known side effects, making it a gentle option for patients with low pain tolerance. Shockwave may cause mild discomfort during treatment, but it has great benefits, such as faster results, and usually requires fewer sessions.

Effectiveness

Laser therapy is effective for reducing pain and inflammation, both in acute and chronic conditions. It is becoming a go-to for the time frame immediately following an injury, too, helping our patients manage their injury process much more comfortably. Its gentle approach is also suitable for patients where some minor discomfort may be a factor or deterrent to treatment. Shockwave therapy is proven to be highly effective for conditions involving calcification and chronic (ongoing) tendinopathy. It shows quicker results in reducing pain and improving function in these cases.

 

Choosing The Right Therapy: The Final Verdict

Thankfully, the choice between laser therapy and shockwave isn’t one that you have to make on your own. At your first appointment, your podiatrist will discuss your available treatment options (which will depend on your specific condition, your circumstances, goals and the like) and whether shockwave, laser, or both may be an option. You’ll have plenty of time to ask questions, and get the information you need to make the best decision, including what your podiatrist would recommend.

Generally speaking, for acute inflammation and pain, laser is a gentle and effective option. For tendon and ligament injuries or conditions involving calcification, including longstanding injuries, shockwave may provide faster and more significant relief. 

 

Still trying to figure out where to start with getting relief from foot and heel pain? Book with our podiatry team by following our online booking system, or give us a call at (09) 523 2333 and speak with our receptionist team. We’re here to help.