Whether you love running the “M” trail or are on your feet all day for work, foot pain has no business getting in the way of your busy life. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to. Effective treatment options are available, and if you’re looking to avoid surgeries and lengthy recoveries, you’ve come to the right place.
At Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic in Missoula, our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Gregg Neibauer, offers advanced laser therapy as a non-invasive solution for wide-ranging podiatric problems, from persistent heel pain and neuromas to post-injury swelling. This innovative treatment helps patients heal faster and get back to their active lifestyles sooner—without surgery, prescription pain medications, or spending significant time off your feet.
Don’t let every step remind you of your foot or ankle pain. Discover how state-of-the-art laser therapy treatments at our Missoula podiatry practice could help you find relief.
What Is Podiatric Laser Therapy?
Unlike medications that may simply mask your pain, laser therapy is a revolutionary treatment that addresses the underlying cause of your discomfort. Here’s how it works: This sought-after therapy uses specialized wavelengths of light energy to trigger natural healing at the cellular level. Our Class IV laser device delivers carefully calibrated red and near-infrared light that deeply penetrates the tissue at the treatment site. When the laser energy reaches the damaged tissue, it stimulates cellular metabolism and increases blood flow. Improved circulation brings more oxygen and nutrients to injured tissue while helping to remove inflammatory compounds that cause pain and swelling.
Common Foot and Ankle Conditions Treated With Laser Therapy
Our Missoula podiatry practice uses laser therapy to treat numerous foot and ankle issues. We routinely use this versatile treatment option to help address problems like:
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Plantar fasciitis. Caused by the inflammation of the thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone and toes, plantar fasciitis is a common source of heel pain. Our cutting-edge laser penetrates deep into the plantar fascia tissue, reducing inflammation and promoting the repair of micro-tears that can lead to discomfort.
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Arthritis. From osteoarthritis to rheumatoid arthritis and gout, these chronic conditions can cause joint inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling. Laser therapy helps reduce joint inflammation and pain while improving mobility for patients with various forms of foot and/or ankle arthritis.
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Tendon injuries. Whether you’re dealing with Achilles tendonitis or posterior tibial tendonitis, laser therapy can help to reduce debilitating pain and speed up the healing process.
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Neuromas. The most common neuroma, Morton’s neuroma, occurs due to the thickening of tissue around one of the nerves leading to your toes. This can cause sharp or burning pain in the ball of the foot or make it feel like you’re standing on a pebble. Laser therapy helps decrease nerve inflammation and pain associated with Morton’s neuroma and other nerve conditions.
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Sports injuries. Athletic injuries are common among people of all ages who play sports or enjoy active lifestyles. Laser therapy can help injured athletes recover and return to the game more quickly, from sprains to stress fractures.
Benefits of Choosing Laser Therapy at Our Missoula Practice
Alpine Foot & Ankle Clinic stays at the forefront of podiatric medicine, allowing us to bring the latest, most effective treatments to Montana patients. Dr. Neibauer is highly experienced with this advanced therapy, which offers several advantages over traditional treatments, including:
Our advanced laser therapy offers several advantages over traditional treatments:
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Quick and painless care. A typical laser therapy session takes just 10 to 15 minutes, making it ideal for active patients with busy schedules. The non-invasive treatment is painless, so it won’t cause discomfort during or after treatment (though some patients report experiencing a slight tingling sensation in the target area during their session).
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No downtime. Unlike podiatric surgeries, which often require extensive post-operative downtime, laser therapy allows patients to return to normal activities immediately after each session. This makes it optimal for people who need effective pain relief but don’t want to significantly disrupt their work, school, or athletic routine.
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Drug-free relief. Podiatric laser therapy lets patients enjoy natural pain relief without the risks and side effects associated with prescription pain medications.
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Customized care. Dr. Neibauer develops personalized treatment plans based on your specific conditions, symptoms, and lifestyle.
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Cumulative benefits. While many patients experience immediate relief, laser therapy’s healing effects continue to build with each session.