Author: Gollwitzer H, Saxena A, DiDomenico LA, Galli L, Bouché RT, Caminear DS, Fullem B, Vester JC, Horn C, Banke IJ, Burgkart R, Gerdesmeyer L
Affiliation:
1Clinic of Orthopedics and Sports Orthopedics, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675 Munich, Germany. E-mail address for H. Gollwitzer: info@drgollwitzer.de. 2Palo Alto Medical Foundation, 795 El Camino Real, Palo Alto, CA 94301. 3Regional Referral Center, Northside Medical Center, 500 Gypsy Lane, Youngstown, OH 44505. 4Advanced Footcare Specialists, 25 Central Park West, Suite 1R, New York, NY 10023. 5The Sports Medicine Clinic, 10330 Meridian Avenue North, Suite 300, Seattle, WA 98133. 6Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists, 2408 Whitney Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518. 7Elite Sports Podiatry, 1700 North McMullen Booth Road, Suite C-2, Clearwater, FL 33759. 8Biometrics in Medicine, idv-Data Analysis and Study Planning, Wessobrunner Strasse 6, 82131 Gauting, Germany. 9Unfallchirurgie und Orthopädie, Klinikum Dachau, Krankenhausstrasse 15, 85221 Dachau, Germany. 10Klinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig Holstein, Arnold Heller Strasse, 24105 Kiel, Germany.
Conference/Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am.
Date published: 2015 May 6
Other:
Volume ID: 97 , Issue ID: 9 , Pages: 701-8 , Special Notes: doi: 10.2106/JBJS.M.01331. , Word Count: 300
BACKGROUND: The effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of plantar fasciitis is controversial. The objective of the present study was to test whether focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy is effective in relieving chronic heel pain diagnosed as plantar fasciitis.
METHODS: Two hundred and fifty subjects were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled U.S. Food and Drug Administration trial. Subjects were randomized to focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (0.25 mJ/mm(2)) or placebo intervention, with three sessions of 2000 impulses in weekly intervals. Primary outcomes were both the percentage change of heel pain on the visual analog scale composite score (pain during first steps in the morning, pain with daily activities, and pain with a force meter) and the Roles and Maudsley score at twelve weeks after the last intervention compared with the scores at baseline.
RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-six patients (98.4%) were available for intention-to-treat analysis at the twelve-week follow-up. With regard to the first primary end point, the visual analog scale composite score, there was a significant difference (p = 0.0027, one-sided) in the reduction of heel pain in the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group (69.2%) compared with the placebo therapy group (34.5%). Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was also significantly superior to the placebo therapy for the Roles and Maudsley score (p = 0.0006, one-sided). Temporary pain and swelling during and after treatment were the only device-related adverse events observed.
CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study provide proof of the clinically relevant effect size of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy without local anesthesia in the treatment of recalcitrant plantar fasciitis, with success rates between 50% and 65%.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Therapeutic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Copyright © 2015 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.
PMID: 25948515 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
