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Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel and foot pain, often resulting from repetitive stress, poor foot mechanics, or chronic degeneration of the plantar fascia.
While conventional treatments such as stretching, orthotics, and rest help many, persistent cases often require a more advanced, non-invasive intervention.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, we believe in utilising the synergy of EMS shockwave therapy and high-power laser therapy to offer a powerful, evidence-based treatment for plantar fasciitis — one that can improve patient comfort, accelerate recovery, and enhance long-term outcomes.
Shockwave therapy (extracorporeal shock wave therapy, ESWT) delivers acoustic waves to the affected tissue, stimulating biological repair processes, promoting angiogenesis, and reducing pain.
At our sports injury clinic in London, we use EMS EMS-DolorClast® Radial Shock Waves, which are delivered in a controlled, patient-friendly manner.
Studies show that ESWT is safe and effective: for example, a one-year follow-up study on radial shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis found 75.3% of patients symptom-free and a low recurrence rate.
A similar long-term study demonstrated preserved improvements up to 12 months ( PubMed ).
Meta-analyses also suggest that medium-energy ESWT may be particularly effective ( PubMed ).
High-power laser therapy, also known as high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), utilises photobiomodulation to modulate inflammation, alleviate pain, and expedite tissue repair.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, we employ EMS high-power laser machines to deliver targeted energy deep into the plantar fascia.
EMS’s own device — the DolorClast® High Power Laser — is often combined with their shockwave systems. According to EMS, using the high-power laser first can reduce pain, making subsequent shockwave sessions more comfortable and effective.
But in our sports injury clinic in London, we have developed our own physiotherapy protocol for plantar fasciitis where we have been using the high-power laser therapy after the shockwave therapy session as well as it has a very strong analgesic and anti-inflammatory action, reducing the pain from previous shockwave sessions.
A randomized clinical trial compared radial ESWT versus HILT (high-intensity laser therapy) in individuals with plantar fasciitis.
Both groups improved significantly in pain and function.
Interestingly, while both therapies were effective, HILT had a greater effect on reducing functional limitation as measured by the Foot Function Index (FFI). PubMed
Another study went a step further: combining ESWT with photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) (which is essentially the scientific principle behind laser therapy), in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Over 3 weeks, the ESWT + PBMT group showed superior improvements compared to either therapy alone, and maintained gains at 12-week follow-up. PubMed
This suggests a cumulative/synergistic benefit when combining shockwaves + light therapy.
EMS themselves describe a “Guided DolorClast® Therapy (GDT)” protocol, combining 3 minutes of high-power laser, a rest, and then radial shockwave application (2,500 pulses at 20 Hz, ~2.5–3 bar) per session.
In a reported case, patients tolerated shockwave far more comfortably when pre-treated with laser, and achieved faster pain relief and functional improvement.
Initial Assessment
Clinical evaluation of your plantar fascia, foot biomechanics, pain levels, and functional limitations.
Discussion of your history, and whether you’ve tried other treatments (stretching, orthotics, Physio Exercises, etc).
Laser Pre-treatment
We apply our high-power laser over the painful region for several minutes (depending on your presentation), based on EMS-guided parameters.
This helps reduce pain, modulate inflammation, and “prime” the tissue.
Shockwave Session
After a short pause, we deliver radial shockwave therapy using EMS’s DolorClast system, typically delivering 2,000–2,500 pulses at a frequency suited to your tolerance and pathology (e.g., 20 Hz, ~2.5 bar).
Because the laser has pre-treated the area, patients often report less discomfort during shockwave than with shockwave alone.
Rehabilitation & Follow-up
After each session, we guide you through a home exercise programme, which may include plantar fascia stretching, foot and ankle strengthening, and self-massage (e.g., using a ball).
We reassess at each visit and at the end of the course. Frequently, we see significant improvements by week/session 3–6.
We emphasise long-term maintenance through daily exercises, and we monitor for recurrence.
Safety & Comfort
Both therapies are non-invasive, with minimal risk when delivered by expert physiotherapists.
In our Physiotherapy clinic in London, we have been dealing with many patients experiencing chronic plantar fasciitis, and so we designed a physiotherapy protocol for it.
Our own physiotherapy protocol to treat chronic and calcific Plantar Fasciitis includes:
This protocol has been very effective with many of our patients affected by chronic plantar fasciitis and with chronic soft-tissue related problems.
Our instruments assisted soft tissue mobilisation (IASTM) treatment is particularly effective in treating soft tissue adhesions and calcification from chronic plantar fasciitis.
This combined strategy to use both Shockwave and Laser Therapy is very powerful to treat plantar fasciitis for many reasons, such as:
Synergy: Laser therapy reduces pain and inflammation, making shockwave treatment more tolerable and possibly more effective.
Biological priming: Photobiomodulation can “condition” tissues, improving their responsiveness to mechanical stimulation (shockwaves).
Evidence-based: Clinical trials support both therapies individually (e.g., ESWT vs HILT) PubMed+2PubMed+2 and combined.
Tailored therapy: Because we use EMS machines (both for shockwave and laser), we can fine-tune the parameters to your pathology, tolerance, and recovery.
Long-term results: Shockwave therapy alone has shown sustained benefit at 12-month follow-up in studies. PubMed
You may benefit from combined shockwave + laser therapy if:
You have chronic plantar fasciitis (e.g., >6 months) and have not fully responded to conservative management.
You’re looking for a non-surgical, non-drug approach to plantar Fasciitis.
You can commit to a course of multi-week treatments + home rehab.
You want a technology-driven, evidence-based treatment for Plantar Fasciitis.
High-power laser therapy must be used by trained professionals, with eye protection for both therapist and patient.
While very safe, shockwave therapy can cause mild discomfort during or after treatment; combining it with laser tends to reduce that.
Response varies: not every patient will respond completely, although studies report good proportions of improvement (PubMed+1 ).
The combined use of radial shockwave therapy and high-power laser therapy represents a state-of-the-art, non-invasive strategy for managing plantar fasciitis. By harnessing the complementary mechanisms of mechanical stimulation (shockwave) and photobiomodulation (laser), we can enhance pain relief, accelerate healing, and improve function.
At Mr Salus Sporting Lab, we are proud to offer this combined protocol, backed by clinical evidence and real-world success, to help you get back on your feet confidently.
If you’re experiencing persistent heel and/or foot pain, or suspect plantar fasciitis, book an initial treatment and assessment with us today for your plantar fasciitis.