Efficacy of Unfocused Shockwave Therapy on Plantar Fasciitis
Authors: Ashraf Fansa MD, Alec J. Talsania BA, John G. Kennedy MD, FRCS, Martin J. O’Malley MD
Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a common foot condition that causes pain in the heel and bottom of the foot. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a promising treatment for PF that uses acoustic waves to promote tissue regeneration and anti-inflammation. A recent study evaluated the efficacy of ESWT for PF using the OrthoGold 100™ shock wave device.
The study included 108 patients with PF who received ESWT treatment weekly for 3 weeks. The patients received 2000 impulses per session at an energy flux density between 0.10 and 0.17 mJ/mm2. The study found that ESWT treatment significantly reduced pain, improved foot function, and quality of life for patients.
The mean pre-ESWT pain score improved from 6.7 ± 1.7 to 2.6 ± 2.7, and patients reported improvements in pain, function of daily living, function of sports and recreational activities, and quality of life domains. Overall, 81.5% of patients were satisfied with the procedure at final follow-up.
The study suggests that ESWT treatment for PF with unfocused shock waves is well-tolerated and can lead to significant pain reduction, functional improvement, and patient satisfaction. Shockwave therapy could be an effective non-invasive treatment option for patients with PF, helping to reduce pain and improve quality of life.