Effect of Local Laser Therapy on Plantar Fasciitis: A Meta-Analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Physical Therapy
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common cause of adult heel pain and functional limitations.
• Laser therapy modalities, including low-intensity laser therapy (LLLT), high-intensity laser therapy (HILT), and photobiomodulation (PBMT), are explored as non-invasive treatments for PF.
• The clinical effectiveness of laser therapy for PF remains under investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze the efficacy of laser therapy in managing plantar fasciitis.
• To evaluate laser therapy's impact on pain reduction, functional improvement, and plantar fascia thickness.
• To synthesize evidence from randomized controlled trials comparing laser therapy to placebo or other physical interventions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic search of PubMed, Embase, and PEDro databases was conducted.
• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving laser therapy for plantar fasciitis were included.
• Data on pain (VAS), heel tenderness (HTI), function (FFI, AOFAS, ASQoL, SF-36), and fascial thickness were extracted and analyzed using random-effects meta-analyses.

Main Results:

• Thirteen trials with 784 participants were included in the meta-analysis.
• Laser therapy demonstrated a significant improvement in heel tenderness (SMD = -0.40).
• No significant differences were found for overall pain (SMD = -0.18), function (SMD = 0.20), or fascial thickness (MD = -0.18 mm), with high heterogeneity noted for pain and function.

Conclusions:

• Laser therapy may offer benefits for heel tenderness in plantar fasciitis.
• Current evidence does not support consistent improvements in overall pain or function with laser therapy.
• Laser therapy should be considered an adjunct treatment, and further large-scale trials with standardized protocols are warranted.