SPECIAL TREATMENTS

RADIAL SHOCKWAVE THERAPY

ACUPUNCTURE & DRY NEEDLING

Will Acupuncture help my foot pain?

Many injuries or conditions of the foot and ankle will affect the soft tissues such as ligaments, muscles and tendons. The pain that results can be complicated and difficult to localise, and is often referred to as Myofascial dysfunction. This is when Acupuncture has become an accepted and very effective means to help reduce the pain and promote and improve healing.

What is Dry Needling?

The Method of Dry Needling uses acupuncture needles to treat myofascial dysfunction.  Dry needling or intramuscular stimulation (IMS) is very effective at relaxing overactive muscles, which often will have multiple trigger points.

The technique is quite simple and involves inserting ultra-thin acupuncture needles into a muscle's trigger points. No anaesthetic is required. It is not ordinarily a painful process, but it does produce quite dramatic results. Neil often uses dry needling as a complementary treatment to Shockwave Therapy.

Dry needling is based on evidence-based Western medicine. It should not to be confused with the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) technique of acupuncture. However, since the same types of needles are used in both dry needling and acupuncture, confusion about these different techniques is quite common.

CLASS 4 LASER THREAPY

One of Neil’s newest treatments is the implementation of laser.

Laser treatment for feet, like ultrasound treatments, is a lesser-known podiatric solution. However, it’s an interesting alternative to invasive treatments. Quick to perform and yielding long-lasting results, foot laser treatments may interest you if you suffer from acute or chronic foot pain.

How does a laser treatment work and are laser treatments safe?

The first thing to know is that these types of lasers differ drastically from industrial lasers—so there is no worry about pain or injury. The entire process is extremely safe.  

Laser treatment for the feet involves applying light beams to the painful area. The light emitted is powerful enough to penetrate superficial layers of the skin to reach the affected tissue that needs treatment. 

Safe and precise, the laser employs a low-intensity frequency absorbed by the body tissue. It’s a phenomenon called photobiomodulation, in which light is transformed into energy as it comes into contact with the targeted cells.

Foot laser therapy is safe and poses no burning risks. The only precaution is to protect your eyes, as they can be vulnerable to radiation emitted by the device. Therefore, you and the podiatrist will wear protective glasses during the procedure.

When are foot laser treatments needed?

Soft tissue and certain bone structures respond well to laser treatments. The procedure activates and accelerates the body’s healing process. Moreover, the slight heat generated in the tissue soothes and relaxes the targeted area. Laser therapy may be a good option for relief if you’re experiencing inflammatory pain or if the ailment results from an injury. Inflammatory conditions that respond well to laser include Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and metatarsalgia.

Diseases affecting the ankle and foot bones—as well as pain related to osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis—can also benefit from laser treatments.

Finally, foot laser treatments can eliminate post-operative pain or pain resulting from sports injuries (such as stress fractures or muscle strains). It’s also possible that Neil will recommend this solution either as a standalone treatment or as part of a larger plan, to remedy neuropathic pain, especially Morton’s neuroma. 

Advantages of feet laser treatments

From a practical viewpoint, advantages are most notably, the painlessness of the procedure and the swiftness of recovery.

It’s a therapy that stimulates the body’s healing process. The vasodilator effect (dilation of the blood vessels) improves blood circulation and oxygenation in the cells, which activates regeneration. Inflammation of the damaged tissue is reduced, which leads to relief the moment the laser is applied.

Laser treatments can even replace surgery if the condition is treated in time. Foot laser treatments are sometimes performed in combination with other treatments prescribed by the podiatrist.

What exactly happens during foot laser treatments?

Firstly, Neil will determine the laser frequency based on your condition and whether it affects the joints or soft tissue. At the start of the treatment, you’ll be asked to sit or lie comfortably while he marks the targeted area. As mentioned earlier, everyone in the room must wear protective glasses to prevent the laser from coming into contact with the eyes. 

Next, the treatment is applied to the skin’s surface with a transmitter. The process often produces a soft sensation of heat or tingling. Session times vary depending on the size of the area being treated but only last a few minutes. On average, the ailment is healed in 2 to 5 sessions. At the end of every session, you’ll be advised on how to prolong the laser’s benefits and reminded not to overwork the foot.

Alternatives to foot laser treatments

In addition to laser therapy, many ways exist to treat inflammatory and musculoskeletal foot pain. Treatment may begin with manual therapy, in which the foot is manipulated to restore balance. Often, this is accompanied by therapeutic taping so the treated areas can rest and recover.

Neil may also prescribe foot exercises at home that are reinforced by laser therapy. 

However, if none of these therapies helps the patient regain their quality of life, Radial ShockWave Therapy may be considered. An evaluation is necessary to determine the best approach, and Neil performs shockwave therapy as well.