EPAT for Plantar Fasciitis: What to Expect

The further down your body you travel, the more strain those body parts experience. By the time you get to the bottom of your feet, the soft tissues and bones have to bear your full weight as you move about your day. 

This is a big contributor to overuse injuries in your feet. Some people experience stress fractures in the small bones of the feet, for example. More commonly, the band of connective tissue along the bottom of your foot — the plantar fascia — runs into trouble.

If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, we can help. With extracorporeal pulse-activated therapy, or EPAT, Dr. Halina Snowball can encourage faster healing in your plantar fascia. This leading-edge treatment is available here at Integrated Pain Solutions in Stamford, Connecticut.

The problem with plantar fasciitis

Along the bottom of each foot, you have a thick band of tissue called the plantar fascia. When this tissue gets inflamed, usually from overuse, it’s called plantar fasciitis. This condition is common in people who spend a lot of time on their feet and athletes. 

Plantar fasciitis usually feels like sharp, stabbing heel pain. It might be at its worst when you first get up in the morning or stand up after a period of inactivity. 

If that sounds familiar, you probably have inflammation in your plantar fascia. The good news is your body has the ability to heal that inflammation. The bad news is the healing process requires rest and time. That’s where EPAT treatment comes in. 

What EPAT treatment entails

EPAT is an established plantar fasciitis treatment. It’s also called extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). It helps your plantar fascia heal faster. 

During this treatment, Dr. Snowball uses a specialized applicator moved over your plantar fascia to send pressure waves into the tissue. This encourages circulation in the area, helping your body expedite its healing processes. 

Dr. Snowball tailors a treatment plan to you based on what your plantar fascia needs. That usually means a series of treatments. 

Each treatment takes only about 5–10 minutes. You don’t need any anesthesia, and nothing invasive happens during treatment. As the applicator moves over your skin, you’ll probably feel a pulsing sensation, but any discomfort should be mild. 

There’s no downtime after your appointment, although continuing to rest as much as possible helps your tissue heal. Studies link this type of treatment with reduced intensity and frequency of plantar fasciitis. 

If you’re looking for a noninvasive, effective way to heal your plantar fasciitis as quickly as possible, talk with Dr. Snowball about EPAT. Call our team at 203-293-0549 to request an appointment or book one online today.