Home Exercise With or Without High-Intensity Laser or Radial Shockwave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized...

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Rehabilitation Medicine

Background:

• Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain.
• Investigating effective treatment modalities is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), and exercise therapy for plantar fasciitis.
• To determine if combining ESWT or HILT with exercise offers superior results.

Main Methods:

• 84 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomized into three groups: ESWT + exercise, HILT + exercise, and exercise alone (control).
• Treatments were administered over 3-15 sessions.
• Outcomes including pain (VAS), plantar fascia thickness, and function (FFI) were assessed at baseline, 3 weeks, and 12 weeks.

Main Results:

• All groups showed significant improvements in pain, plantar fascia thickness, and function (P < .05).
• No significant between-group differences were detected at 12 weeks, indicating similar efficacy across all interventions.

Conclusions:

• ESWT, HILT, and exercise therapy are all effective in managing plantar fasciitis symptoms.
• Combining ESWT or HILT with a home exercise program does not yield greater clinical benefits compared to exercise alone.
• Exercise therapy is a viable and practical first-line treatment option for plantar fasciitis.