Pain in the heel is often due to a condition known as plantar fasciitis. There are several ways to treat plantar fasciitis and heel pain. If other methods haven’t been completely successful and your heel pain persists, laser treatment could be right for you. In the Inwood, Washington Heights, NY, area, heel pain laser treatment is available at our podiatry office in New York, NY. Dr. Elizabeth Youngewirth or Dr. Irina Blustein can help you prepare for heel pain laser treatment.
Heel Pain and Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is a foot condition in which the band of plantar fascia tissues that run along the bottom of the foot from the heel to the toes becomes inflamed and irritated. The plantar fascia tissues provide shock absorption for the feet, but repeated pressure and stretching can result in excessive wear and tear on the tissues. When this happens, heel pain can develop.
Plantar fasciitis and heel pain can be caused by several factors, including:
- Running
- Overpronating
- High-impact workouts
- Spending extended periods on the feet
- Wearing footwear without adequate support
- Activities that put stress on the heels
- An irregular gait
- Being overweight
Laser Treatment for Heel Pain
If heel pain due to plantar fasciitis is not treated, it can become increasingly worse over time. Some common treatment methods include custom orthotic shoe inserts, night splints, a removable walking cast, padding, and strapping and anti-inflammatory medications. While these methods offer relief for some patients, they might not provide permanent relief for everyone. Patients dealing with chronic or recurring plantar fasciitis and heel pain can benefit from laser treatment.
We offer heel pain laser treatment at our office in the Inwood, Washington Heights, NY, area. A handheld laser therapy device is used to deliver light energy to the plantar fascia tissues, which reduces pain and swelling, increases circulation and blood flow, and stimulates the repair of damaged cells. A typical treatment session takes between 15 and 30 minutes. Most patients experience pain relief after one session, but some individuals benefit from additional laser therapy sessions.
There is not much you need to do to prepare for heel pain laser treatment. The first step is scheduling a consultation with one of our experienced podiatrists. Once you have decided on laser therapy, a session will be scheduled. During your treatment session, all you need to do is relax while the laser does its job. Laser therapy is an outpatient procedure with no side effects. Patients can return home immediately after a treatment session.
Laser treatment can provide long-lasting relief from heel pain due to chronic or acute plantar fasciitis. For heel pain laser treatment in Inwood, Washington Heights, NY, schedule a consultation with Dr. Youngewirth or Dr. Blustein by calling our New York, NY, podiatry office at (212) 567-6126.