If you’re dealing with plantar fasciitis, you know how disruptive heel pain can be. What often begins as mild discomfort can turn into persistent pain that affects your mornings, your workouts, and your ability to stay on your feet throughout the day.
At Bodyworks Physical Therapy in Fargo, we use Shockwave Therapy to help reduce pain and stimulate healing in chronic plantar fasciitis. With an approximately 80% success rate, this non-invasive treatment offers an effective alternative for patients whose heel pain hasn’t responded to other approaches.
What Is Shockwave Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy is an FDA-approved, non-invasive treatment used to reduce pain and stimulate healing in chronic soft tissue conditions, including plantar fasciitis (see other conditions shockwave therapy can treat here). You may also hear it referred to as extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) or radial shockwave therapy (RSWT).
This treatment uses targeted acoustic energy (high-energy radial pressure waves) delivered directly to the painful area of the heel and plantar fascia. At its most basic level, shockwave therapy stimulates new cell growth and reactivates the body’s healing response.
Why Plantar Fasciitis Becomes Chronic
In the early stages of plantar fasciitis, inflammation and micro-tearing of the plantar fascia trigger the body to heal. But when heel pain lasts for months, the body may no longer recognize the area as injured.
As a result:
- Blood flow to the tissue decreases
- Healing slows or stops
- Pain becomes persistent and harder to resolve
Shockwave Therapy works by “waking up” the healing process again.
How Shockwave Therapy Helps Heal Plantar Fasciitis
Shockwave Therapy triggers the release of key bio-chemicals that:
- Increase blood flow to the plantar fascia
- Stimulate tissue repair and regeneration
- Improve cellular metabolism
- Reduce pain sensitivity
By delivering energy directly to the site of heel pain, shockwave therapy encourages the body to repair damaged tissue instead of just masking symptoms.
How Effective Is Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis?
Shockwave Therapy has an approximately 80% success rate in treating chronic plantar fasciitis and other tendinopathies. Because of this high success rate, shockwave therapy has become a popular non-surgical alternative to:
- Cortisone injections
- Long-term medication use
- More invasive procedures
For many patients, it offers meaningful pain relief when other treatments haven’t worked.
What to Expect During Shockwave Therapy Treatment
A shockwave treatment is about 5-15 minutes. Most patients complete between 4–12 sessions, depending on the severity of their heel pain and how their body responds.
- Treatment is easily incorporated into a physical therapy plan
- Some mild discomfort may be felt during treatment
- Many patients notice pain relief quickly, while others experience gradual improvement over several sessions
If you’d like a closer look at the process, we recommend reading our guide on What to Expect During a Shockwave Therapy Session
Why Combine Shockwave Therapy With Physical Therapy?
Shockwave Therapy is most effective when paired with a comprehensive physical therapy approach.
At Bodyworks Physical Therapy, we focus on:
- Addressing movement patterns that contribute to heel pain
- Improving foot, ankle, and calf mobility
- Strengthening muscles that support the arch and foot mechanics
- Gradually reintroducing load to the plantar fascia safely
This combination helps ensure long-term results, not just temporary relief.
Is Shockwave Therapy Right for Your Heel Pain?
If you’ve been struggling with plantar fasciitis and feel like you’ve tried everything, Shockwave Therapy may be a great option to explore. It’s non-invasive, research-backed, and has helped many patients return to walking, running, and standing with less pain.
You don’t have to live with ongoing heel pain. If you have questions or would like to see whether shockwave therapy is appropriate for you, request an appointment at Bodyworks Physical Therapy in Fargo. We’re here to help you get back on your feet.