Question

Matthew Miller is a 65-year-old runner who comes in after many unsuccessful treatment for his plantar fasciitis. He receives a single treatment of shock wave therapy of the plantar fascia. He tolerates the procedure well and is discharged to home to follow-up in 2 weeks. What is the purpose of shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis?

1) To reduce inflammation in the plantar fascia
2) To strengthen the plantar fascia
3) To improve blood circulation in the foot
4) To relieve pain in the foot

Answer 1

Shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis is used to relieve foot pain by applying high-intensity ultrasound waves to penetrate the tissue and promote healing.

Step-by-step explanation:

The purpose of shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis is primarily to relieve pain in the foot. Shock wave therapy employs high-intensity ultrasound waves, emitting energies of 10³ to 104 W/m² and using frequencies of 0.8 to 1 MHz, to penetrate the tissue.

This type of therapy is aimed at promoting healing and providing pain relief rather than directly reducing inflammation or strengthening the tissue.

Although shock wave therapy can stimulate blood flow, the main intent is to alleviate discomfort through its analgesic effects.