MD Podiatrist Dispels Myths About Plantar Fasciitis

According to Dan Michaels, DPM, “Anyone suffering from plantar fasciitis is going to look for answers, a solution to this sometimes crippling discomfort. A common mistake made by those dealing with the pain of plantar fasciitis is to assume greater cushioning is the answer. Many afflicted individuals will seek out the softest soled shoe possible. Or, alternatively, an arch support with the most cushioning material available will be used. As they will typically discover at some point, cushioning isn’t the answer.”

“Reducing inflammation in this ligament will reduce the pain and can be achieved in numerous ways. The traditional approach is to inject a steroid medication (e.g. cortisone) into the area. Unfortunately, this is often all that is done, which doesn’t address the excess tension on the symptomatic structure, and the pain commonly returns. A more effective alternative is shock wave therapy, a regenerative technique leading to healing. After hundreds of studies on shock wave examining its effectiveness and success rate, we can definitively say shockwave is beneficial for plantar fasciitis and carries no risk of complications. Additionally, and importantly, this therapy improves the health of these tissues,” says Dr. Michaels.