A Prospective Randomized Trial Using Four Treatment Modalities for the Treatment of Plantar Fasciitis

Abstract

Introduction: A prospective randomized study was conducted to determine the efficacy of subjective pain reduction in patients with plantar fasciitis using four treatment modalities. Methods: One hundred patients (62 females and 38 males) were randomly assigned into four groups (n = 25) to receive arch supports, ultrasound treatments, injection or orthotics. Results: The ultrasound group had the highest average pain reduction of 3.97 after treatment and the highest number of patients who had pain relief after treatment at 81% or 21/25. Orthotics had the next highest average pain reduction followed by local Marcaine/Triamcinolone injection and arch supports. The orthotic group had more patients who had no pain after using the devices than any of the groups. Conclusions: No single treatment modality provided complete heel pain relief after treatment. Combining modalities will likely help improve plantar fasciitis than just one modality alone. This study also implies that some patients will require more than just one treatment modality to eliminate the symptoms of plantar fasciitis and that each modality usually decreased heel pain in most patients.