A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Ultrasound Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

摘要

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of radial extracorporeal Shockwave therapy (rSWET) and ultrasound therapy (US) in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Setting: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. Material and Method: Thirty patients who were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis for at least 3 months and who had not responded to other forms of conservative treatment were recruited for this study. They were randomly divided into two groups of 15 patients. The rESWT group was treated with 1 session per week and the US group with 3 sessions per week, with both groups undergoing a total of 6 consecutive weeks of treatment. Visual analog scale (VAS) assessments were performed before and after treatment at 1, 3, 6,12, and 24 weeks. The mobility subscale of the plantar fasciitis pain and disability scale (PFPS) was measured before and after treatment. Patient satisfaction was evaluated at the conclusion of the 6-week treatment protocol.