Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) For Heel Spurs: What to Expect

Calcium is an essential mineral that plays an important role in your bone health. However, when calcium forms a deposit, it can cause problems. That’s exactly what happens when you develop a heel spur. A calcium deposit creates a bony protrusion below your heel bone, making way for bothersome symptoms. 

If you’re seeking heel spur relief, you may want to consider extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). Drs. Edward Buro, Christine Peterson, and Rosario Saccomanno are pleased to offer this minimally invasive treatment at Mayfair Foot Care in Commack, New York.

Take a few minutes to learn more about heel spurs, including what to expect from ESWT.

Heel spur causes and symptoms 

Heel spurs are typically caused by strain on the ligaments and muscles surrounding the heel bone. The strain can stem from overstretching or overuse, which is common in sports involving jumping or running, or from a sudden injury.

While anyone can develop a heel spur, other risk factors include:

• Bursts of intense physical activity
• Carrying excess weight
• Having diabetes
• Having flat feet or high arches
• Increasing age
• Spending a lot of time on your feet
• Walking abnormalities
• Wearing worn-out or poor-fitting shoes

Not everyone with a heel spur experiences symptoms beyond a prominent lump. When symptoms do appear, they often involve recurrent or ongoing heel pain. The pain may feel like sharp stabs when you first stand up in the morning and gradually shift into a dull, lingering ache. Sitting or standing for lengthy amounts of time may also exacerbate heel spur pain. 

How extracorporeal shockwave therapy helps

Your ideal heel spur treatment depends on the severity of your symptoms and your overall health. If more conservative options, like icing, a night splint, orthotics, and anti-inflammatory medications, haven’t sufficed, you may be a prime candidate for extracorporeal shockwave therapy.

First developed to treat gallstones and kidney stones, ESWT accelerates your body’s natural healing process using targeted shockwaves or radial pressure waves. Both waveforms are acoustic waves that use sound energy to expedite healing. 

Because ESWT waves are low-energy, the treatment is gentle and requires no anesthesia or downtime for recovery. Each treatment takes only 5-15 minutes, during which your provider delivers the waves with a handheld device. While some people experience discomfort during the process, pain is uncommon.

If neither conservative care nor shockwave therapy is effective enough to minimize your heel spur symptoms, we may recommend surgery to repair affected ligaments or remove bone fragments that add pressure to surrounding nerves.

To learn more about extracorporeal shockwave therapy for heel spurs or get started with personalized care, call Mayfair Foot Care or schedule an appointment using our online booking feature today.