Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology
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Northwest Foot and Ankle Institute
Podiatrist Foot & Ankle Reconstruction Surgery located in Barkley Village, Bellingham, WA
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology (EPAT) is a cutting-edge acoustic sound wave treatment for musculoskeletal pain. At Northwest Foot and Ankle Institute, experienced podiatrists Michael Czurylo, DPM, and Hyowon Choi, DPM, chose this technology because it’s a powerful non-surgical treatment that can quickly reduce your pain. If you have plantar fasciitis, ankle pain, or another kind of foot or ankle pain and other treatments don’t work fast enough, EPAT could be just what you need. Call the Bellingham, Washington, office to schedule a consultation or request an appointment online today.
Extracorporeal Pulse Activation Technology Q & A
What is EPAT?
EPAT, also called extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT), is an FDA-approved non-invasive treatment for many types of musculoskeletal pain. EPAT uses controlled sound waves to improve your body’s natural healing capabilities.
EPAT can help with many different conditions that affect the bones, muscles, ligaments, and tendons inside your feet and ankles. Some of the acute and chronic pain conditions EPAT may help with include:
- Plantar fasciitis - severe ligament inflammation-causing heel pain
- Achilles tendinitis - severe Achilles tendon inflammation in the back of your heel
- Bursitis - inflammation in the sacs that surround your joints
- Heel spurs - calcium deposit hook on your heel
- Ankle sprains - ligament stretch or tear
- Ankle strains - tendon stretch or tear
- Avascular necrosis of bone
- Pain caused by foot trauma
In many foot and ankle conditions, pain isn’t the only problem. Often, patients lose normal range-of-motion, and sometimes overall mobility suffers, too. Because EPAT helps you heal and regenerate damaged tissue, it can also help with motion and mobility problems.
For foot problems that include complications like calcium deposits and scar tissue, EPAT can help by breaking up the abnormal deposits. This allows your natural foot structure to return.
EPAT may also help with other acute and chronic conditions, especially those that don't improve with traditional conservative care.
How does EPAT work?
In EPAT, your podiatrist uses a handheld wand to send low-frequency acoustic waves directly into the deepest tissue layers of the area where you’re injured or have chronic or acute pain.
The treatment is completely non-invasive and requires no anesthesia. The acoustic sound waves increase blood flow and facilitate improved healing in injured or worn-down tissue.
How many EPAT sessions will I need?
EPAT can relieve your pain in as few as 3-5 sessions. Most Northwest Foot and Ankle Institute patients have EPAT sessions once a week until they feel better. Since sessions last only 7-10 minutes, they’re easy to work into your schedule, and there’s no downtime afterward.
Because EPAT offers lasting relief rather than a temporary fix, it’s a very cost-effective option for many kinds of musculoskeletal pain. Reach out to Northwest Foot and Ankle Institute by phone or request an appointment online to learn more about EPAT.
