Meat Tenderizer, Aging and Plantar Fasciitis

I've been watching the Olympics with the rest of you but thought I'd squeeze out a quick post about tissue and healing. I also happen to love the meat locker scene from Rocky. When you get old your tissue degenerates and your collagen that makes up tissue begins to crosslink. Think botox for wrinkles. Medical technology has brought us shockwaves (ESWT)for heel pain, lasers and growth factors to attempt to jump start the healing process. How well do they work? Well the evidence is not gold medal; that's for sure but there are some that may work in some people and a bronze for some is better than no medal at all! Of all the new treatments shockwave therapy (ESWT) is the most promising and seems to have the biggest bang for the buck. Amol Saxena DPM, a consultant for USA Track and Field, is a big believer of early use of ESWT. I am an not advocate for platelet derived growth factor considering the cost of the procedure. I welcome colleagues and patients to share their experience. Enjoy the rest of the Olympics!