NCT06846931

Comparison of the Efficacy of Shock Wave Therapy and Laser Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis

Comparison of the Efficacy of Low Intensity ESWT and Low Intensity LASER Therapy in the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis; Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ahi Evran University Education and Research Hospital · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 18 Years – 65 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and low-intensity laser therapy on pain, functionality, plantar fascia thickness and balance in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Detailed description

Plantar fasciitis is a pathology resulting from inflammation and/or degeneration of the plantar fascia of the sole of the foot. It affects about 10% of the population. It is one of the most common causes of chronic heel pain in the community and there is tenderness to palpation on the medial aspect of the heel bone. Patients complain of pain particularly with the first step in the morning and after rest. Mechanical overload and overuse can cause inflammation of the fascia. Diagnosis is usually made by clinical assessment and no further investigations are required. In this study, 90 patients between the ages of 18 and 65 who meet the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled and participants will be randomised into 3 groups. The 1st group will be taught ESWT and home exercises for 1 session per week for 3 weeks and will be asked to do it every day. The 2nd group will receive 3 sessions of low intensity LASER per week for 3 weeks and will be asked to do home exercises every day. The 3rd group will only be taught home exercises and asked to do participants every day for 3 weeks. Visual analogue scale, foot function index, plantar fascia thickness measurement with USG and balance parameters will be measured at the beginning of the study, at the end of the treatment and at week 12.

Conditions

• Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy	By the same physiotherapist with more than 5 years of clinical experience, radial ESWT treatment with 2500 pulses, 10 Hz frequency, 2.5-3 bar pressure, is applied to the most painful point of the heel and surrounding soft tissues, plantar aponeurosis and Achilles tendon insertion area on the dorsum of the heel, once a week for a total of 3 sessions.
OTHER	Low Intensity Laser	A total of 28j (5.6jx5 points) are applied to the plantar fascia at 5 points on the heel by the same physiotherapist for 3 weeks, a total of 9 sessions (every other day) with the patient lying face down.
OTHER	EXERCİSE	Exercise therapy is carried out by the patient for 3 weeks. Plantar fascia stretching exercises (exercises to stretch the membrane on the sole of the foot), gastrocsoleus stretching exercises (exercises to stretch the calf muscles), foot intrinsic muscle strengthening exercises (exercises to strengthen the muscles on the sole of the foot) are taught to the patients by the doctor and they are asked to perform them 2 times a day 10 times for a total of 3 weeks.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-07
• Primary completion: 2025-12-25
• Completion: 2025-12-25
• First posted: 2025-02-26
• Last updated: 2025-12-31

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)