Cold Laser Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis: What to Expect

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of foot pain, affecting about 10% of Americans. People with very active lifestyles, including athletes, tend to experience plantar fasciitis more often. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says about 2 million women and men are treated for plantar fasciitis yearly.

With offices in Midtown Manhattan and Staten Island, New York, Forward Foot & Ankle uses cold laser therapy to help patients with plantar fasciitis find relief for foot pain. In this post, our team describes why plantar fasciitis happens and how cold laser therapy could help you find lasting relief.

Plantar fasciitis: The basics

Plantar fasciitis is an inflammatory condition involving the plantar fascia, a tough, strong band of fibrous tissue that extends from the heel toward the toe area. The plantar fascia helps support your arch and gives your foot flexibility when you walk or stand. It also absorbs shocks and distributes your weight, helping prevent extra strain on the midfoot region.

Inflammation typically happens due to wear and tear on this tough band. Repetitive impacts on your feet wind up causing tiny tears in the plantar fascia and chronic inflammation. While anyone can develop plantar fasciitis, it’s more common among people who:

• Are older
• Engage in activities that cause an impact to the soles
• Spend a lot of time on their feet
• Are overweight
• Have tight Achilles tendons or calf muscles
• Increase physical activity suddenly
• Have foot problems, like flat feet or unusually high arches

Plantar fasciitis is also more common among people with diabetes.

Plantar fasciitis tends to involve pain centered around the heel, extending toward the center of your sole. If you have plantar fasciitis, you might find your symptoms are worse in the morning or after rest or sitting still. Pain tends to improve gradually with movement, worsening again after another rest period.

How cold laser therapy works

Also called low-level light therapy or LLLT, cold laser therapy uses special wavelengths of light to penetrate your skin and target the injured tissues painlessly. The light energy triggers natural healing responses to help heal tissues without invasive treatments and injections.

In addition to promoting healing, cold laser therapy is especially effective in reducing inflammation, a key feature in plantar fasciitis. Decreased inflammation also alleviates tissue swelling, improving foot flexibility and function.

Finally, cold laser therapy reduces pain by increasing circulation in the area. Greater blood flow provides injured tissues with nutrients and oxygen necessary for healing while carrying away toxins that can lead to increased pain.

Combined, these effects help repair injured tissue and restore normal, pain-free function. Better still, data show the effects of cold laser therapy are long-lasting, and treatments can be repeated to keep pain at bay while your foot heals.

Relief for your nagging foot pain

Plantar fasciitis is just one possible cause of foot pain. Our team thoroughly evaluates your feet to find out what’s causing your symptoms, customizing a treatment plan just for you.

To learn more about cold laser therapy or what’s causing your painful foot symptoms, request an appointment online or over the phone with the team at Forward Foot & Ankle today.