Dear Doctor;
We have now been treating patients with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) since October 23, 2002. After extensive investigation, our group decided to utilize the Dornier Epos Ultra, which is one of two shockwave therapy machines that have been FDA approved for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. In our opinion, the advantages of the Dornier machine are clear in terms of superior technology. With the ability to obtain real time ultrasound imaging during the course of treatment for appropriate placement, the treatment can be done under simple local anesthetic.

The utilization of shockwave therapy is reserved for patients who have had plantar fasciitis for more than six months and have failed at multiple conservative treatments. Where indicated these would include stretching, icing, shoe gear modification, padding, orthotics, taping, NSAID therapy, corticosteroid injection, night splinting and rest. Multi-center randomized placebo controlled prospective double masked clinical studies of patients with plantar fasciitis with at least moderate pain of at least six months and a history of prior conservative therapy were involved in the clinical study for FDA approval. In three months, 61.6% of patients that received the real treatment had good to excellent results compared to only 39.7% of the placebo patients. The most common adverse events were pain during treatment and pain three to five days post treatment. No long term side effects were noted in the studies reviewed. Since these trials have been completed, the world literature has supported the positive findings. Some additional recent studies performed in the United States as well as an extensive bibliography have been included below for educational purposes. Please feel free to contact any of us should you have any further questions concerning extracorporeal shockwave therapy. Relevant clinical information will be continually posted at this site as it becomes available.

Thank you very much for your confidence in our services. We strive to continue to provide the highest quality foot and ankle care to your patients.

Sincerely,
Doctor, DPM, LLC

Please read the documents below to learn more about ESWT or the Dornier Epos Ultra shockwave emitter.

Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data - PDF Format		ESWT Article from The Journal of Foot and Ankle Surgery - PDF Format
Summary of Safety and Effectiveness Data - Word Format		Dornier Epos Ultra: Orthopedic Shock Wave Therapy

• Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis
  Samuel B. Adams Jr., George H. Theodore MD
  DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS, MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL, BOSTON MA
  
• "Common Foot Deformities” lecture. Updated January 5, 2005

Some of the forms on this page are in PDF Format.  They can be viewed using the Free Adobe Acrobat which you can download here.