EPAT SHOCKWAVE THERAPY
The Best in
Advanced Healing.
At Rainier Foot & Ankle Associates, we believe our patients deserve the best. We provide a variety of advanced, conservative, and regenerative therapies designed to accelerate recovery from foot and ankle pain as safely as possible.
One tool that we use frequently is Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Treatment, also known as EPAT Therapy or shockwave therapy.
What Is EPAT and
How Does It Work?
EPAT Therapy is a regenerative therapy that uses high-pressure acoustic waves to mechanically stimulate cellular repair in a region of damaged or injured tissue.
Clinical Mechanism
The "shockwaves" help increase blood and nutrient flow to the area and break up calcified deposits in soft tissues. During treatment, the waves cause microscopic damage—a "friendly fire" quickly repaired by the body—which signals your system to restart the healing process.
Recalcitrant Pain
EPAT Therapy is an excellent option for patients suffering from chronic, recalcitrant soft tissue pain, such as cases of plantar fasciitis or Achilles tendinitis that have lingered and not responded to other treatments. It may also be effective for bone healing.
A Few Common Questions
EPAT has a very high clinical success rate, with 85-90 percent of patients reporting significant improvement in their symptoms after a full course of 3-5 treatment sessions. When you consider most of these people were previously suffering from chronic conditions that may have lasted months or years with no improvement, that is a remarkable statistic! Results do vary from person to person, but for most people it works extremely well.
Yes, EPAT is very safe. Although the mechanical process may cause some minor pain and soreness for a few days after the treatment, more serious side effects are extremely rare, and there are few contraindications. Moreover, the treatment does not require the use of any anesthetics or drugs and is completely non-invasive.
EPAT is a regenerative therapy that’s designed to actually heal damaged tissue rather than hide the symptoms. The goal is complete, permanent reduction in pain and restoration of function. That said, if there are underlying causes of the injury that still need to be addressed, we will have to treat those as well.
Yes. In fact, we often include EPAT alongside other traditional forms of therapy, or even other advanced therapies, in order to increase the effectiveness. For example, EPAT has been shown to be a great “companion” therapy for amniotic tissue injections.
Is EPAT
Right For Me?
Determining which, if any, of these procedures is best for your situation will depend on a number of factors.
For example, MLS Laser Therapy is an alternative that works by reducing inflammation and guiding cells to repair. In contrast, EPAT works by triggering a short-term increase in inflammation to restart healing.
Whether you need laser over internal fixation hardware or EPAT for a soft-tissue injury, you can count on us to provide a comprehensive array of customized options.
Clinical Considerations
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Laser Therapy Safe for use over internal fixation hardware (plates/screws).
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EPAT Therapy Generally avoided directly over internal hardware; best for soft tissue pathology.
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Customization We carefully consider medical history and contraindications before any recommendation.
Is EPAT Therapy the Best Choice for You?
Whether an advanced treatment like EPAT or a more traditional method is ideal for your recovery will depend on your medical history, current health, and the underlying cause of your pain.
One thing is certain: holding off on receiving any treatment whatsoever only ensures your pain and discomfort will continue. You can count on Rainier Foot & Ankle to provide a customized plan that fits your unique situation and gets you back to activity as quickly as possible.
Schedule an appointment in Enumclaw, WA by calling (360) 761-1285, or fill out our online form today.