Every step you take shouldn’t be a painful reminder of a podiatric condition. If you’re struggling with chronic foot and ankle pain that hasn’t responded to traditional treatment approaches but want to avoid surgery, Indy Podiatry can help. Our board-certified Indiana podiatrists offer EPAT shockwave therapy at our offices in Indianapolis and Fishers. This revolutionary treatment helps patients with plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, and other soft-tissue injuries recover without incisions, anesthesia, or downtime.
Discover how our specialists use EPAT to help patients get back on their feet faster!
Understanding EPAT Shockwave Therapy and Its Benefits
EPAT, or Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment, is an FDA-cleared, evidence-based treatment that uses acoustic pressure waves to stimulate healing in injured soft tissues. When applied to the skin, these waves create micro trauma at the treatment site, increasing blood flow, metabolism, and growth factors in the affected tissues to kick-start your body’s natural healing process.
This innovative technology offers numerous advantages over surgery and other traditional approaches to relieving podiatric pain, including:
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No downtime. Unlike surgery, which can require weeks—or even months—of recovery, EPAT shockwave therapy allows you to return to work and other regular activities immediately after treatment.
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Noninvasive. EPAT requires no incisions, needles, or anesthesia, providing pain relief without the risk of complications, unsightly scarring, or painful scar tissue.
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Quick sessions. Treatments typically take 15 minutes or less, making it easy to fit EPAT shockwave sessions into your busy schedule.
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Proven results. EPAT is an evidence-based treatment, with clinical studies showing success rates of 75 percent or higher for many common foot and ankle conditions.
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Cost-effective. Though insurance does not cover EPAT shockwave therapy, the overall cost is often less than surgery—especially when factoring in time off work and recovery.
Exploring the Conditions We Treat With EPAT
Our podiatric specialists in Indianapolis and Fishers use EPAT shockwave therapy to address wide-ranging foot and ankle issues. The treatment has proven particularly effective in treating the following conditions:
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Plantar fasciitis. Caused by an inflamed plantar fascia—the thick band of tissue that runs along the bottom of your foot, connecting the heel bone and toes—plantar fasciitis produces a stabbing pain in the bottom of the foot near the heel that’s typically worst in the morning. EPAT pressure waves target the inflammation to reduce heel pain and stiffness.
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Achilles tendinitis. An inflammation of the Achilles tendon—the thick band of tissue connecting your thigh muscles to your heel bone—Achilles tendinitis causes heel and ankle pain, tendon stiffness, and leg weakness. EPAT helps heal painful inflammation, restoring function and flexibility.
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Neuromas. Caused by the thickening of the tissue surrounding a nerve leading to your toes, Morton’s neuroma can make it feel like you’re standing on a pebble. EPAT shockwave therapy can decrease nerve inflammation and associated symptoms like burning, tingling, and numbness in the ball of your foot.
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Stress fractures. Repetitive stress and overuse can lead to stress fractures and small cracks on the surface of bone that cause swelling, pain, and tenderness. EPAT promotes bone healing and reduces recovery time for certain foot and ankle stress fractures.
Getting Started With EPAT at Our Indiana Offices
At Indy Podiatry, our foot and ankle specialists have extensive experience administering EPAT therapy. We take time to understand your goals and lifestyle needs, creating a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan that gets you back to the activities you love.
Your EPAT journey begins with a thorough evaluation by one of our Indianapolis-area podiatrists to determine if this therapy suits your condition. Each treatment session typically takes 15 minutes or less, and most patients need 3-5 sessions spaced about a week apart.
During the procedure:
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You’ll recline comfortably while your doctor applies gel to the treatment area
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The EPAT device delivers precise pressure waves to the injured tissue
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You may feel a tapping sensation but shouldn’t experience pain or significant discomfort
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After treatment, you can immediately return to most daily activities
Seeing Results From EPAT Therapy
Though some patients report improvement after just one EPAT session, most begin seeing results between one and three months after starting treatment. Also, while most patients require three sessions, in some cases, an additional two or three sessions are needed.