Diagnosis and current therapeutic management of chronic plantar fasciitis

Chronic plantar fasciitis is a degenerative process that affects the plantar fascia of the foot. The aim of this literature review was to update knowledge on the diagnostic approach and to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and dextrose prolotherapy. A search was conducted in three databases, including articles published over the last 10-15years. There is sufficient scientific evidence supporting that shockwave therapy has become established as an effective, safe, and valid method for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis, providing good outcomes regardless of the type of wave and intensity level applied. In turn, dextrose prolotherapy has been shown to be effective in reducing pain in the short and medium term, proving superior to placebo or isolated conservative therapies, and emerging as a valid cost-effective alternative.