Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2025
Predictive Measurement for Windlass Change in Length and Selected Treatment Outcomes in Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
Published on: March 1, 2024
Ultrasound-guided procedures for plantar fasciitis: a randomized clinical study
Rubén Montes-Salas1, Ramón Mahillo-Durán1, Álvaro Gómez-Carrión2
1Podiatry Department, Faculty of Nursing, Physiotherapy, and Podiatry, Universidad de Sevilla, Sevilla, 41009, Spain.
Background:
Corticosteroid injections are commonly used for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. In recent years, ultrasound-guided multipuncture treatment of the fascia has been described in the literature. Our study aimed to compare the effectiveness of these two techniques in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Methods:
The outcomes achieved over 120 days following the use of these techniques to treat plantar fasciitis were examined. A total of 81 patients were randomly selected for the study; 41 were treated with ultrasound-guided multipuncture and 40 with ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection. Clinical examinations and ultrasound assessments were performed before treatment and at 30, 60 and 120 days post-treatment. Clinical assessments included the use of a visual analog scale (VAS) to record pain and the Foot Function Index (FFI) to evaluate function. Ultrasound was used to measure the thickness of the plantar fascia.
Results:
Both the ultrasound-guided multipuncture and corticosteroid injection techniques were associated with significant functional and echographic improvements at 4 months post-treatment (P < 0.001). Pain did not improve significantly after 120 days with ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection, whereas significant pain reduction was observed with ultrasound-guided multipuncture.
Conclusion:
Corticosteroid injection provides better short-term results in terms of VAS pain and FFI scores. However, ultrasound-guided multipuncture shows superior outcomes in VAS pain and FFI scores at 120 days.
