Does shockwave therapy treat heel spur?

A heel spur is a bony projection that can appear where tissues attach to the heel. Many people have a spur without it being the source of pain. Symptoms may instead come from irritated plantar fascia or another soft-tissue problem. Shockwave therapy sends mechanical pulses into a selected painful area to support symptom improvement and loading tolerance; it is directed at the pain-generating tissues, not used as a tool to shave bone away.

Ask a clinician to examine your foot and identify whether the spur, plantar fascia, nerve, joint, or another structure explains the pain. Helpful care can include supportive footwear, a gradual calf and foot strengthening programme, and temporary changes to running or prolonged standing. Discuss medical conditions, skin infection, bleeding problems, medicines that affect clotting, and recent injections before shockwave therapy.

Arrange care if heel pain persists, changes your walking, or returns whenever activity increases. Get urgent help after an injury if you cannot walk, or if the foot is hot, rapidly swollen, numb, or accompanied by fever.

Ask what structure is causing your pain, whether imaging changes the plan, what exercise and footwear adjustments are needed, and how treatment response will be reviewed.