How Radial Pulse Therapy Can Heal Your Feet
If you’ve been dealing with persistent foot or ankle pain that just won’t go away, you might be a good candidate for our modern, non-invasive treatment called Radial Pulse Therapy (RPT). We at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists have seen this special form of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) be a game-changer for chronic pain. Since it’s a way to get your body to kickstart its own healing process, let’s jump into what it is, how it works, and what foot conditions it’s best suited to treat.
What is Radial Pulse Therapy?
Radial Pulse Therapy uses a handheld device to deliver low-energy, radial pressure waves to the skin. Unlike traditional shockwave therapy, which delivers a more focused, high-energy wave, RPT covers a wider, more superficial area. This makes it a gentler, more comfortable, and highly effective treatment for many foot problems, all without the need for anesthesia or extensive recovery time.
How Does RPT Work?
The therapeutic magic of RPT is its ability to force your body to heal. Literally.
When the pressure waves are applied to the injured area, they immediately increase blood circulation to the treated area, which causes tissue repair and regeneration. But that’s not the cool part.
The pulses essentially overwhelm your pain receptors and reduce the nerve’s ability to send pain signals to the brain. And it’s this hijacking that provides significant relief.
Foot Conditions Radial Pulse Therapy Can Help
RPT is a versatile tool in a podiatrist’s office. Here are all the conditions we’ve treated by using it:
- Plantar Fasciitis: This is a top application for RPT. The therapy can target the inflamed plantar fascia, break down painful scar tissue, and encourage new collagen growth to heal the ligament.
- Achilles Tendonitis: For pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon, RPT increases blood flow to the often poorly supplied tendon.
- Heel Spurs: RPT can help relieve pain associated with heel spurs by treating the underlying plantar fasciitis that causes them. The goal is to address the soft tissue pain, not to remove the bony spur itself.
- Shin Splints: Are you a suffering runner? RPT can help the inflamed tissue where muscles attach to the shin bone.
- Morton’s Neuroma: For the pain and tingling of a neuroma, RPT can help reduce inflammation and swelling around the irritated nerve.
- Stress Fractures: In some cases, RPT can be used to stimulate bone metabolism and quicken the healing of tiny bone cracks.
The best part? It’s an in-office procedure that typically takes only 5-10 minutes per session. There is virtually no downtime, which allows you to live life WHILE you get better.
If you’re experiencing foot pain, discomfort, or changes in how you walk, come see the expert team at Desert Podiatric Medical Specialists. With locations in Tucson and Oro Valley areas of Pima County, Arizona, Bradley A. Whitaker, D.P.M., FACFAS, Peter C. Merrill, D.P.M., AACFAS, and Zeno Pfau, D.P.M., are here for you. Call us at (520) 575-0800 or contact us online!
