ISMST · ESWT Certification Course · Clinical Module 7

Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Focused on the mechanics of movement, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) relieves plantar heel pain and supports functional recovery through targeted regenerative effects.

Co-authored and validated by: Dr. Sergej Thiele · part of the official ISMST–ESWT online certification faculty

Get certified One-time payment · €599 incl. VAT · 12 months full access

ISMST-certified curriculum

One module of the official ISMST–ESWT online certification course.

Led by Dr. Thiele

Co-authored and validated by Dr. Sergej Thiele.

Interactive clinical cases

18 chapters with 8 interactive activities and self-assessment checks.

Evidence-based

Recommendations anchored in published clinical research, free of industry bias.

What you’ll learn

From first-step heel pain to lasting recovery

This section covers the diagnosis, evidence base, and treatment protocols for ESWT in chronic plantar fasciitis. It equips physicians to select appropriate patients, choose between ESWT and Radial Pressure Wave Therapy (RPWT), apply evidence-based treatment parameters, and manage follow-up and non-response.

Plantar fasciitis is characterized by degeneration and thickening of the plantar fascia, often leading to impaired mobility and reduced quality of life. While many cases respond to conservative care such as stretching, orthoses, or injections, chronic and recalcitrant cases may benefit from ESWT as a regenerative, non-invasive option.

Taught at physician level — structured clinical evidence, treatment rationale and interactive case examples, not device marketing.

After this module you will be able to:

Identify the clinical presentation and pathophysiology of chronic plantar fasciitis
Explain the choice of ESWT over other conservative and interventional treatments
Justify the use of ESWT based on mechanistic and clinical evidence
Discuss best practices in patient selection and treatment planning for ESWT in plantar fasciitis

Inside the module

3 guided study units, chapter by chapter

Every chapter combines concise clinical text with imagery, interactive elements and knowledge checks. Here is what module 7 covers — the full teaching is inside the course.

Understanding Plantar Fasciitis: Foundations for Treatment

Definition & EtiologyRisk factorsDiagnosticsDifferential DiagnosisESWT TreatmentESWT compared to other modalitiesTreatment Goals

ESWT Evidence and Treatment

Evidence BasePatient Selection and ContraindicationsTreatment Protocols and ParametersClinical Integration and OutcomesComplications of ESWT

Radial Treatment

Suitability of Radial Pressure WavesClinical Evidence for RPWT in Plantar FasciitisTreatment protocolPractical Considerations and Alternatives in Clinical ApplicationCombination treatmentSafety and Side Effect Profile

From the evidence

A taste of what the module teaches

1 in 10

Plantar fasciitis affects approximately 10% of the general population over a lifetime, making it the most common cause of acquired subcalcaneal heel pain — the module grounds every treatment decision in this pathophysiology.

Thompson et al., J Am Osteopath Assoc 2014

72% vs. 45%

Reduction in VAS pain scores twelve weeks after radial pressure wave treatment versus placebo in a multicenter randomized trial of 245 patients — with superiority sustained at one year (85% vs. 43%). The module walks you through the evidence study by study.

Gerdesmeyer et al., 2008

Watch the experts at work

Treatment demonstrations, step by step

Every clinical module includes video demonstrations by the ISMST faculty — on real patients and in the WaveVision VR environment. No VR headset required.