Patients with plantar fascia should complete a regimen of manual stretching exercises first instead of undergoing repetitive low-energy radial shockwave therapy for the best treatment outcomes, according to an article published in the Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
Researchers evaluated 102 patients with acute plantar fasciopathy who were randomly assigned to undergo either an eight-week fascia-specific stretching program or repetitive low-energy radial shockwave therapy without local anesthesia. Patients were evaluated by the same outcome and pain measurement scales.
At the two-month follow-up, patients who underwent the stretching regimen reported significantly greater changes in the amount of pain they experienced when compared with the patients who received shockwave therapy. Fourteen shockwave therapy patients reported satisfaction with their treatment, compared with 35 stretching patients.
At the 15-month follow-up, no significant difference was measured between the groups.
Read the abstract for "Plantar Fascia-Specific Stretching Versus Radial Sock-Wave Therapy as Initial Treatment of Fasciopathy."
Read more coverage on sports medicine studies:
- Study: Little Difference Among Platelet Rich Plasma Processing Systems
- Professional Basketball Schedule Could Contribute to the Likeliness of Injury
- Study: Osteoarthritis Most Prevalent in Combined Injury ACL Replacements
Researchers evaluated 102 patients with acute plantar fasciopathy who were randomly assigned to undergo either an eight-week fascia-specific stretching program or repetitive low-energy radial shockwave therapy without local anesthesia. Patients were evaluated by the same outcome and pain measurement scales.
At the two-month follow-up, patients who underwent the stretching regimen reported significantly greater changes in the amount of pain they experienced when compared with the patients who received shockwave therapy. Fourteen shockwave therapy patients reported satisfaction with their treatment, compared with 35 stretching patients.
At the 15-month follow-up, no significant difference was measured between the groups.
Read the abstract for "Plantar Fascia-Specific Stretching Versus Radial Sock-Wave Therapy as Initial Treatment of Fasciopathy."
Read more coverage on sports medicine studies:
- Study: Little Difference Among Platelet Rich Plasma Processing Systems
- Professional Basketball Schedule Could Contribute to the Likeliness of Injury
- Study: Osteoarthritis Most Prevalent in Combined Injury ACL Replacements