Still Dealing With Heel Pain After Months of Trying Everything?
Plantar fasciitis is one of the most stubborn conditions to treat. You've probably tried rest, stretching, ice, and maybe a round of orthotics or physical therapy. Things improve slightly, then the moment you get back on your feet, the sharp heel pain returns, worst in those first steps out of bed in the morning.
That cycle happens because most conventional approaches manage the symptoms rather than addressing what's actually happening in the tissue. The plantar fascia, the thick band of connective tissue running along the bottom of your foot, develops micro-tears and calcification over time. Without something that stimulates real tissue repair, the pain keeps coming back.
Patients come to Gold Hill Chiropractic in Fort Mill from across the area, including Tega Cay and Rock Hill, specifically because they've exhausted the standard options and want a treatment that actually works on the tissue itself.
What Is Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis?
Shockwave therapy uses high-energy acoustic waves delivered through the skin to stimulate the body's natural healing response in damaged connective tissue. It's non-invasive, requires no injections, and doesn't involve any downtime.
At Gold Hill Chiropractic, Dr. Jeremy Hozjan uses focused shockwave technology, specifically MyACT (Myofascial Acoustic Compression Therapy), which is distinct from the radial shockwave devices used at many clinics. Focused shockwave penetrates to precise tissue depths, targeting the exact site of fascial damage rather than dispersing energy across a wider area. This precision matters most for chronic conditions like plantar fasciitis, where the damage is concentrated at the calcaneal insertion point at the heel.
The mechanism: acoustic waves create a mechanical stimulus in the tissue that increases local circulation, breaks down calcified deposits, and triggers cellular repair processes, including the release of growth factors that promote collagen regeneration in the fascia.
How Dr. Hozjan Treats Plantar Fasciitis
Dr. Jeremy Hozjan, BSc Kinesiology, BEd, DC, has been treating plantar fasciitis with focused shockwave at Gold Hill Chiropractic and Natural Healing for several years. He combines MyACT shockwave with chiropractic assessment of foot biomechanics, because plantar fasciitis is often worsened by alignment issues in the ankle, knee, or hip that put uneven load on the fascia.
What this means for your treatment: you're not just getting a shockwave device pointed at your heel. Dr. Hozjan assesses the full picture, including gait, foot mechanics, and contributing biomechanical factors, and treats accordingly. Where relevant, he may combine shockwave with chiropractic adjustment or soft tissue work in the same session.
Learn more about Dr. Hozjan's approach to musculoskeletal care.
What to Expect During Treatment
Step 1: Assessment
Step 2: Focused Shockwave Treatment
Step 3: Recovery and Progress
What Patients Experience After Shockwave Treatment
- Reduced heel pain on weight-bearing: Most patients report significantly less pain with walking, particularly the first-steps-in-the-morning pain that is the hallmark of plantar fasciitis.
- Tissue-level repair, not just symptom management: Focused shockwave stimulates genuine fascial healing, reducing the likelihood of the pain returning once treatment is complete.
- Back to the activities you've been avoiding: Running, hiking, extended standing, and everyday movement become manageable again once the underlying tissue has healed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most patients require 4 to 8 sessions, scheduled 1 to 2 times per week. Improvement typically begins to appear after sessions 3 to 5, with continued progress over the following weeks as the tissue repairs. Some chronic or severe cases may require additional sessions.
Coverage varies by provider and plan. Gold Hill Chiropractic does not direct-bill for shockwave therapy, but can provide documentation for patients submitting claims to their insurer. It's worth checking with your provider directly, as coverage for shockwave has expanded significantly as the evidence base has grown.
It's normal to experience increased soreness for 24 to 48 hours after your first session or two, as the tissue responds to the mechanical stimulus. This is not a sign of worsening. True aggravation of the condition from focused shockwave is uncommon when treatment is appropriately targeted. Dr. Hozjan will adjust intensity and targeting based on your response.
Focused shockwave, like the MyACT technology used at Gold Hill, delivers concentrated acoustic energy to a precise tissue depth. Radial shockwave disperses energy more broadly at the surface level. For plantar fasciitis, where the damage is typically at the fascial insertion point at the heel bone, focused shockwave is considered the more clinically targeted option.
No referral is needed. Gold Hill Chiropractic accepts direct bookings for shockwave therapy assessments. Same-day appointments are available most days.
Ready to Treat the Root Cause of Your Heel Pain?
Gold Hill Chiropractic and Natural Healing is located at 1824 Gold Hill Road, Fort Mill, SC, serving patients from Fort Mill, Tega Cay, and Rock Hill. Dr. Jeremy Hozjan, DC, offers focused MyACT shockwave therapy with same-day appointments and treatment beginning on your first visit.
Gold Hill Chiropractic and Natural Healing
1824 Gold Hill Rd,Fort Mill, SC
29708 View Staff & Treatments
