review · Disability and Rehabilitation
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy provides beneficial effects for individuals suffering from chronic plantar fasciitis. A systematic review gathered evidence across multiple health databases, examining eleven randomised controlled trials that involved 658 patients. The primary measures evaluated were pain, assessed using the Visual Analogue Scale, and mobility, measured through the Foot Function Index. Due to variability among the examined trials, the data could not be pooled into a meta-analysis. However, qualitative synthesis showed moderate evidence that the non-invasive therapy improves both foot function and pain levels. The intervention demonstrated no associated side effects across the reviewed studies. Consequently, shock wave therapy presents a viable and promising rehabilitation alternative to conventional clinical approaches for managing long-term plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is a common and persistent source of heel pain that limits mobility and everyday activity. Identifying effective non-invasive treatments with minimal risks is critical for improving patient outcomes. Confirming that shock wave therapy helps reduce pain and restore foot function provides rehabilitation professionals and patients with an evidence-backed alternative to conventional clinical treatments.
The findings support the clinical adoption of extracorporeal shock wave therapy devices in physiotherapy and orthopaedic rehabilitation practices. Because the evidence is derived from multiple clinical trials with 658 patients, the technology is applied and tested in real-world healthcare settings. Device distributors and clinical service providers can position the equipment as a proven, non-invasive substitute for conventional plantar fasciitis treatments without associated side effects.
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PURPOSE: The aim of this review was to synthesize current evidence on the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy on pain, and foot function in subjects with plantar fasciitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comprehensive search of PubMed/Medline, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, Cochrane Library, and Scopus were done to identify randomized controlled trials of extracorporeal shock wave therapy in subjects with plantar fasciitis. PEDro scale was used to evaluate the methodological quality of included trials. Visual Analogue Scale and Foot Function Index were the primary outcome measures of this review. Due to varying of entailed trials, meta-analysis was not carried out. RESULTS: Eleven randomized controlled trials with 658 patients were included. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy exhibited a moderate confirmation to better pain, and foot function of individuals with chronic plantar fasciitis. CONCLUSION: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy could be a promising rehabilitation intervention and might support to improve pain, and foot function of subjects with chronic plantar fasciitis.IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONExtracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) exerted beneficial effects on pain and functional outcomes for chronic plantar fasciitis.ESWT could be effectively performed with no side effects.ESWT could be an alternative to the conventional management of chronic plantar fasciitis.
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DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1928775
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