NEWS RELEASE
Contact:
Michael Zapf, DPM, FACFAS
Telephone: (818) 707-3668
AGOURA PODIATRIST, Michael Zapf,
OFFERS SHOCKWAVE THERAPY SOLUTION
TO TREAT DEBILITATING FOOT PAIN
Agoura Hills, CA --
March 10, 2004 -- Dr. Michael Zapf announced that he is now offering office
based extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) sometimes called High
Energy Shockwave Therapy for the treatment of plantar fasciitis (plantar
fash-e-i-tis).
Commonly
referred to as heel spurs, plantar fasciitis is a painful and often debilitating
condition that afflicts more than 2.5 million people in the United States
each year. Although everyone is at risk, plantar fasciitis is most commonly
found in athletes, runners, overweight individuals, or those who are required to
stand on hard surfaces for prolonged periods of time. Dr. Zapf reports that
plantar fasciitis is the most common athletic injury he sees in his busy
practice. Although conservative treatment will remedy the problem in 90 to
95% of the cases, prior to ESWT surgery was the only available alternative
for chronic sufferers. Surgery is highly invasive, numerous complications can
arise, including infection and has a success rate of only 50% compared
with 70% to 80% for ESWT. The recovery time from surgery can be as long as 6 to
8 weeks whereas for ESWT the patient can return to normal activity the following
day.
Shockwave
therapy is based on breakthrough technology that has been effectively treating
urinary stones for more than 20 years. This noninvasive, outpatient procedure
often requires only a single, 30-minute session. On the day of the procedure,
the patient is given an ankle block using local anesthesia. The High Energy
Shockwave Device, operated by United Shockwave Therapies, sends high-energy
shock waves through the heel and jumpstarts the healing process by regenerating
blood vessels in the injured area as well as providing an analgesic effect. The
Epos Ultra is the first and only shock wave therapy device with built-in
ultrasound, enabling caregivers to pinpoint the precise treatment area without
guesswork.
“Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is a safe and effective alternative to the
traditional treatment methods available for plantar fasciitis,” said Dr. Zapf.
“By offering this treatment I am able to help patients get back to their active
lifestyles and significantly reduce healthcare costs for employers as employees
are able to return to work within days rather than weeks or months.” Dr. Zapf
has treated more than two dozen patients with High Energy Shockwave with
surprisingly good results. Two patients had a resolution of pain that measured
“9” or “10” on a 10-point scale and most had a reduction of 4-6 points. Said Dr.
Zapf, “One of the patients I did in September of last year called my office in
December from a local shopping mall. She reported, with a catch in her throat,
that she was holiday shopping and able to walk around for the first time in
nearly two years. She stated that Shockwave therapy had given me my life back.”
Dr. Zapf performs the treatment in his
office thus saving the costly expense of a SurgiCenter or hospital. With the new
fee schedule from United Shockwave the total out of pocket cost to the patient
is never more than $500. For more information about the treatment or to
schedule an appointment, please contact him at (818) 707-3668. He will be happy
to send you a brochure or lend you a video tape on the treatment. You can also
refer to his web site: www.conejofeet.com.
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