Late fall is hard on heels. An Arlington Heights podiatry practice explains EPAT, a non-surgical sound wave treatment for plantar fasciitis given in short weekly sessions over five weeks.

Cold, hard ground, long holiday shopping trips and extra hours on the feet at work make late fall a hard season for heels. For people with plantar fasciitis, that can mean months of pain, and many assume the only options are rest, inserts or surgery.

First Step Foot Care, which has an Arlington Heights location on West Rand Road, offers another route. According to the practice, Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) is effective in treating foot conditions, especially plantar fasciitis (heel spurs), along with tendonitis of the foot and ankle, Achilles tendonitis, neuromas and joint injury.

EPAT works by administering sound wave pulses into the injured area, which stimulates the body's own healing reaction with improved blood circulation. The practice describes it as a fundamental component of the non-surgical treatment process. A weekly EPAT treatment lasts around 15 minutes and is repeated once weekly for a total of five weeks.

Patients do not need to be immobilized during treatment. EPAT needs no anesthesia and no incision, allows immediate weight bearing with no cast, and the practice lists a return to normal activity within 24-48 hours.

First Step Foot Care was started in 1991 and has three locations in the Chicagoland area. The Arlington Heights location is at 149 W. Rand Road.

"A lot of people with plantar fasciitis have already tried stretching, new shoes and over-the-counter inserts by the time they come to us. EPAT gives them a non-surgical option that fits around work: a short visit once a week, and they walk out on their own two feet," said a spokesperson for First Step Foot Care.

• Wear supportive shoes on hard floors, even at home.
• Replace worn-out sneakers and insoles.
• Stretch the calves and arches before the first steps of the day.
• Ice the heel after a long day on your feet.
• See a podiatrist if heel pain lasts more than a few weeks.

First Step Foot Care in Arlington Heights is at 149 W. Rand Road. Patients with heel pain can learn more about seeing a Podiatrist online or call (847) 282-3072.

About First Step Foot Care

First Step Foot Care is a podiatry practice founded in 1991 with locations in Arlington Heights, Des Plaines and Wauconda, Illinois. It treats heel and arch pain, plantar fasciitis, bunions, ingrown toenails, warts, diabetic foot problems, sports injuries and more, and offers EPAT shockwave therapy, MLS laser therapy and extremity MRI. More information is available at firststepfootcare.com.

Contact Information:

First Step Foot Care (Arlington Heights, IL)

149 W Rand Rd
Arlington Heights, IL 60004
United States

A spokesperson for First Step Foot Care
(847) 282-3072
http://www.firststepfootcare.com/