Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT)

Allentown Family Foot Care is proud to offer Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT), a modern, non-invasive treatment option for stubborn foot, heel, and ankle pain. If you’ve been living with pain that just won’t quit, this may be the solution you’ve been waiting for.

Unlike surgery or long courses of physical therapy, RSWT works by stimulating your body’s own healing response. There are no injections, no incisions, and no downtime. You can walk out of the office and go right back to your day.

What Is Radial Shockwave Therapy?

A Cutting-Edge, Non-Invasive Treatment

Radial Shockwave Therapy (RSWT) is a cutting-edge technology proven to increase the rate of healing for soft tissue problems, especially tendinopathy. It is an advanced, non-invasive, and highly effective treatment method that:

Enhances blood circulation in the injured area
Accelerates the healing process
Helps damaged tissue gradually regenerate

At Allentown Family Foot Care, we use the Zimmer EnPuls RSWT system to deliver focused energy into the painful tissue of the foot, heel, or ankle, right at the source of the problem.

How Does RSWT Work?

Restarting a “Stalled” Healing Process

When you experience chronic pain, your body often stops recognizing that there is an injury in that area. The healing process “shuts down,” and you are left with ongoing discomfort and inflammation that never fully resolves.

RSWT changes that.

The ballistic sound waves from the Zimmer EnPuls penetrate deeply into the soft tissue, creating controlled microtrauma ,a small, new inflammatory response in the treated area. This is not harmful; it’s intentional. It tells your body, “There is a problem here, start healing again.”

As this happens:

The stimulated tissue releases special bio-chemicals
These chemicals intensify the body’s natural healing response
New microscopic blood vessels begin to form in the damaged tissue
Blood flow improves, and the tissue can finally repair itself more effectively

All of this occurs without surgery and without injections, making RSWT an excellent choice for many patients who want to avoid more invasive procedures.

What Conditions Can RSWT Treat?

RSWT is designed to treat a variety of chronic foot and ankle conditions, especially those involving tendons, ligaments, and soft tissue. Common conditions include:

Plantar fasciitis
Achilles tendinitis
Morton’s neuroma
Shin splints
And more soft-tissue related foot and ankle problems

If you’ve been told you have one of these conditions, or you’ve been living with heel, arch, or tendon pain that just won’t go away, RSWT may be an excellent option to consider.

What Do Studies Show About RSWT?

Radial Shockwave Therapy has been studied extensively for more than 20 years. Across multiple clinical studies, RSWT has been shown to have an average 80% success rate in reducing pain and improving function in appropriately selected patients.

While no treatment can be guaranteed to work 100% of the time, those are very strong odds, especially for people who have already tried other options without lasting relief.

What Is an RSWT Treatment Like?

Simple, Quick, and Performed by Physicians

All RSWT treatments at Allentown Family Foot Care are performed by experienced physicians who specialize in foot and ankle care.

Here’s what you can expect:

Treatment Process

RSWT is delivered using a handheld applicator that looks similar to an ultrasound device.
The applicator is placed on the painful area and moved in a slow, circular motion.
The device delivers ballistic sound waves into the tissue over about 5 minutes per session, depending on the size and number of areas being treated.

Treatment Schedule

Treatments are typically performed once a week.
Most patients complete a series of 4 to 5 sessions.

Comfort During Treatment

You may feel some minor discomfort during the procedure as the energy targets the most painful, damaged tissue.
In fact, these “tender spots” help us precisely locate the true source of your pain so we can treat it more effectively.
Discomfort is usually brief and very manageable, and treatments are well tolerated by most patients.

After Treatment

There is no downtime.
You can walk out of the office and resume your normal daily activities the same day.

RSWT vs. Other Treatment Options

Many patients in the Lehigh Valley come to us after trying multiple treatments without lasting relief. RSWT can often fit into these decision points and provide a convenient, effective alternative.

RSWT Compared to Physical Therapy

Traditionally, chronic foot and ankle pain might be treated with physical therapy, often requiring:

2–3 visits per week
6 or more weeks of appointments
About an hour per visit
Frequent co-pays that can add up over time

With RSWT, treatment is:

Once a week, usually for 4–5 weeks
About 5 minutes per session
Often comparable in total cost to physical therapy co-pays
Associated with a higher likelihood of success for many chronic soft tissue conditions

For many patients, RSWT is not only more convenient, it may also be more cost-effective and successful over time.

RSWT and Surgery

For some conditions, surgery used to be the next step when conservative care failed. Surgery can be effective, but it usually involves:

Anesthesia and an operating room
Time off your feet
A recovery period with limitations
The likelihood of needing ongoing orthotic support afterward

RSWT offers a non-surgical alternative for many patients. While it may not replace surgery in every case, it can often help patients avoid or delay surgery by stimulating healing and reducing pain without incisions or downtime.

RSWT and Steroids

Steroid injections may provide short-term relief for some patients, but:

After two injections with little improvement, the chance that a third will help is usually quite low.
Repeated steroids can carry potential risks to the tissue.
Some patients are understandably hesitant about needles or steroids in general.

For these reasons, RSWT is an excellent next step when injections have failed, or for patients who prefer to avoid injections altogether.

Night Splints or Boots

Night splints and walking boots can sometimes help with certain foot conditions, but they also:

Must be worn for long periods, often at night
Can be uncomfortable and disruptive to sleep
Limit mobility and can be inconvenient

In contrast, RSWT offers a convenient solution that doesn’t interfere with your sleep, doesn’t require you to wear equipment, and doesn’t restrict your movement. Many patients prefer a short, weekly in-office treatment instead of wearing devices for weeks or months.

Is RSWT Right for You?

If you:

Have been in pain for months or even years
Have tried rest, shoe changes, medications, or injections with little relief
Want to avoid surgery or long courses of physical therapy
Prefer a non-invasive, convenient treatment with no downtime

…then Radial Shockwave Therapy may be an excellent option.

Every patient’s situation is unique, so the best way to know if RSWT is appropriate for you is to schedule an evaluation with one of our physicians. We will review your history, examine your foot, heel, or ankle, and discuss whether RSWT fits into your treatment plan.

Schedule Your RSWT Consultation

Allentown Family Foot Care proudly serves patients throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond. If you’re tired of living with foot, heel, or ankle pain, we’re here to help you explore advanced options like Radial Shockwave Therapy.

Contact our office today to request an appointment and find out if RSWT is the right step toward getting you back on your feet, comfortably and confidently.