Making the decision to use new technology for your medical condition such as laser all depends on your age, genetics, and medical condition. Sometimes a treatment won’t work if you do not meet their biological qualifications. Experiences can vary greatly with patients, and the personal experience of one patient will not always translate to your experience. Extracorporeal pulse activation treatment (EPAT), growth factor, and laser are among the new treatments available to patients.

For example, plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, the fibrous tissue that runs along the arch of the foot to connect the heel bone and ball of the forefoot. Typically, patients are treated with structural arch support like custom orthotics. If conservative treatments like that still result in persistent pain or no improvement, then EPAT can be used to treat chronic plantar fasciitis by administering low frequency shock waves. The reason I selected this technology for my patients was because of the caliber of the scholarly research articles that had been written about the technology.

Cochrane reviews is another great resources. Their reviews provide information based on the quality, relevance, and consistency written on a given technology keeping it up to date and reliable. Using this guide will help you make better medical choices for your treatment.