Thinner plantar fascia predicts decreased pain after extracorporeal shock wave therapy
Journal
Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research
Journal Issue
460
Pages
219-225
Date Issued
2007
Author(s)
Abstract
Increased plantar fascia thickness is common with chronic plantar fasciitis, and reduction of the thickness after extracorporeal shock wave therapy or steroid injection has been reported. We hypothesized a decrease of plantar fascia thickness was associated with pain reduction after extracorporeal shock wave therapy. Fifty-three eligible patients with 78 symptomatic feet were randomly treated with piezoelectric-type extracorporeal shock wave therapy of two intensity levels (0.12 and 0.56 mJ/mm). Two thousand shock waves for three consecutive sessions were applied at weekly intervals. A visual analog scale for pain, the Foot Function Index, the Short Form-36 Health Survey, and ultrasonographic measurement of plantar fascia thickness were evaluated at baseline and 3 and 6 months after treatment. We analyzed the association between pain level and plantar fascia thickness with generalized estimating equation analysis and adjusted for demographic and treatment-related variables. Patients with thinner plantar fascia experienced less pain after treatment; high-intensity treatment and regular exercise were associated with lower pain level. The overall success rates were 63% and 60% at the 3- and 6-month followups. High- and low-intensity treatments were associated with similar improvements in pain and function. Receiving high-intensity treatment, although associated with less pain at followup, did not provide a higher success rate. ? 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.
SDGs
Other Subjects
adult; article; clinical trial; controlled clinical trial; controlled study; demography; disease association; exercise intensity; extracorporeal lithotripsy; female; follow up; foot; foot pain; function test; human; human experiment; major clinical study; male; outcome assessment; piezoelectricity; plantar fasciitis; prediction; priority journal; shock wave; Short Form 36; treatment duration; treatment response; visual analog scale; aged; chronic disease; fascia; pain assessment; pathophysiology; prospective study; radiation; treatment outcome; Aged; Chronic Disease; Fascia; Fasciitis, Plantar; Female; High-Energy Shock Waves; Humans; Male; Pain Measurement; Prospective Studies; Treatment Outcome
Publisher
Lippincott Williams and Wilkins
Type
journal article