Plantar fasciitis, is a very painful condition. The heel may hurt, feel hot or swell. The pain is a result of inflammation or microscopic tears of the plantar fascia. The Fascia is a thin layer of tough tissue supporting the arch of the foot. It is fibrous like celery.

Sometimes people refer to plantar fasciitis as "heel spurs" but this is not generally accurate, since the spur or calcification growths on the heel are generally not the cause of the pain. Heel spurs are a result of Plantar Fasciitis. Heel spurs are a calcification which forms due to the damage to the fascia.

Typically with plantar fasciitis, the pain is worse when first getting out of bed, sometimes unbearable. Sometimes it is noticeable at the beginning of an activity and gets better as the body warms up. Prolonged standing may cause pain, as well.

Plantar fasciitis pain is severe and can cause loss of time from work sometimes leading to total and/or partial disability. Common surgical procedures used for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis also lead to permanent disability. ESWT eliminates the risk factors associated with surgery and lets the patient resume a normal life.

• Foot pain that is very bad in the morning
• Foot pain that gets sore after sitting
• Foot pain that keeps you from doing the things you love
• Burning in the sole of the foot near the heel
• Tired, achy feet you blame on shoes or "being on your feet too much"
• Heel spurs "run in the family"
• Heel pain after starting a new running, walking or exercise routine
• There is also what we refer to as "trigger point" pain. Meaning the patient will have pain if the doctor presses at the site where the fasciia meets the heel bone.

Conditions currently being treated by Excellence Shock Wave Therapy:
Achilles tendonitis  |  Plantar Fasciitis (Heel spurs)  |  Shoulder tendonitis  |  Tennis elbow

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