Low Level Laser Therapy Provides An Effective Drug-Free, Safe Treatment Option For Foot Bursitis
Experienced GP, Dr Shikha Parmar, has a special interest in providing a drug-free safe, effective treatment solution in Melbourne for acute injuries and chronic pain using Low Level Laser light Therapy also termed Photobiomodulation or PBM Therapy.
Foot Bursitis Treatment using Low Level Laser Therapy
What Is Foot Bursitis?
Foot Bursitis is an inflammation or irritation of one or more of the thin bags of lubricating fluid called the bursa, which reduces friction between different tissues on the foot such as bone, muscle, tendons, and skin. These bursa are present between the long bones, or metatarsals, of the foot and also behind the heel bone, or calcaneus.
Causes of Foot Bursitis
- repetitive, minor impact on or pressure to the muscles, tendons or ligaments of the foot
- causing the related bursa to become injured and inflamed
- sudden more serious impact
- ageing tendons are less able to tolerate stress, are less elastic, and are easier to tear. putting stress on the bursa causing bursitis. Most sufferers of foot bursitis are over 4o years old
- arthritic joints can irritate a bursal sac
- foot joint injures from overuse can cause bursitis e.g. gardening, raking, carpentry, shovelling, painting, scrubbing, tennis, golf, skiing, and throwing
- sometimes the reason is unknown
Symptoms of Foot Bursitis?
Foot Bursitis causes pain and a stiff feeling in the in the affected bursa and related muscles, tendons and joints which may build up gradually or be sudden and severe. Foot pain gets worse during or after activity and is improved with rest and elevation.
How is Foot Bursitis Treated?
Foot bursitis is commonly treated using anti-inflammatory medication, rest and applying ice to the area. Patients who present to laser Pain Therapy have already undergone these therapies and not achieved resolution of their problem. Icing the injury should be avoided, as this can actually be detrimental to the tissue healing process, reducing the rate of blood flow to the injured area and affecting the delivery of oxygen and nutrients required as part of the healing process. Applying ice can also prevent toxins and waste products from effectively draining from the injured area and as such is to be avoided. Read more here.
Anit-inflammatory medications work primarily by masking pain. Their anti-inflammatory effect does not translate into a definitive tissue healing effect. More-over, more than a few days’ use can carry problematic gastric side-effects and increasing recent evidence points at significant cardiovascular risk.
Corticosteroid (cortisone) injections are also commonly used as part of the treatment of foot bursitis, but have the downside of potentially being both initially painful and increasing the pain of the condition (referred to as a ‘steroid flare’). Other side effects can include localised skin discolouration, nerve damage and infection. Cortisone injections do not heal tissues but have a temporary anti-inflammatory effect only and are actually immunosuppressive.
Our Melbourne clinic offers Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) as an effective, robust treatment solution. Red and near-infrared light is applied to injured areas and inflamed tissue, helping to energise the body’s cells and promote cellular repair. Offering powerful anti-inflammatory action, LLLT creates a healing effect on inflamed bursae, as well as inflamed soft tissue and joints in the surrounding area. An affordable, pain-free and safe option with no side-effects, it helps patients return rapidly to the lifestyle they deserve.
