Orthotripsy for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

The FDA has recently approved the use of the OssaTron for the treatment of chronic heel pain. This treatment may help many sufferers of heel pain avoid surgery.

PLANTAR FASCIITIS

Each year over 40 million Americans suffer from "heel pain syndrome" often referred to as "heel spurs." The typical symptom for this problem is severe pain upon first rising in the morning. Resting provides only temporary relief. When resuming walking, particularly after a night's sleep, sudden elongation of the fascia band stretches and pulls on the heel. The heel pain may lessen or even disappear, but that may be just a false sense of relief. The pain often returns after sitting or resting. This intermittent pain often progresses to a daylong nagging pain.

Conventional treatment for this extremely painful problem includes: cortisone injections, use of custom made orthotics, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as Advil or Aleve, physical therapy and muscle stretching. Despite these techniques, the pain may persist for months or years.

Many people who have heel pain get better with time, even with no treatment. Many people find relief after trying one or several of the above mentioned conservative treatments.

The OssaTron is a shock wave generator, very similar to the shock wave devices used to treat kidney stones without surgery. This treatment provides "extracorporeal shock waves".  "Extracorporeal" means "outside the body". These shock waves are reflected to the focal area selected for treatment. 

OssaTron® Orthotripsy® is a non-invasive procedure for orthopedic applications. Orthotripsy utilizes the same technology as lithotripsy for kidney stones; very strong acoustic (sound) waves that produce a shock wave. Science has proven that shockwaves stimulate bone growth and promote the healing of tendinopathies.

When aimed at soft tissue that has developed scar tissue or is chronically inflamed, the shock wave will cause revascularization (increase circulation) to the area. The revascularization process initiates the body's natural healing process and in time decreases the inflammation to the tendon or fascia, thereby decreasing and eventually eliminating pain to the area.

There are two indications approved for OssaTron® Orthotripsy® by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): chronic proximal plantar fasciitis, or heel pain syndrome, and chronic lateral epicondylitis, or tennis elbow. The OssaTron® is the first and only high energy, one time treatment, Extracorporeal Shock Wave device approved by the FDA to treat these painful conditions

Who Should Consider Having Orthotripsy Treatment for Chronic orthotripsy?