The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (American) 84:335-341 (2002)
© 2002 The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Inc.
Evaluation of Low-Energy Extracorporeal Shock-Wave Application for Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
Jan D. Rompe, MD,
Carsten Schoellner, MD and
Bernhard Nafe, MD
Investigation performed at the Department of Orthopaedics, Johannes
Gutenberg University School of Medicine, Mainz, Germany
Jan D. Rompe, MD
Carsten Schoellner, MD
Bernhard Nafe, MD
Department of Orthopaedics, Johannes Gutenberg University School
of Medicine, Langenbeckstraße 1, D-55101 Mainz, Germany.
E-mail address for J.D. Rompe: rompe{at}mail.uni-mainz.de
The authors did not receive grants or outside funding in support
of their research or preparation of this manuscript. They did not
receive payments or other benefits or a commitment or agreement
to provide such benefits from a commercial entity. No commercial
entity paid or directed, or agreed to pay or direct, any benefits
to any research fund, foundation, educational institution, or other
charitable or nonprofit organization with which the authors are
affiliated or associated.
Background: Although the application of low-energy
extracorporeal shock waves to treat musculoskeletal disorders is
controversial, there has been some limited, short-term evidence
of its effectiveness for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
Methods: From 1993 to 1995, a prospective, two-tailed,
randomized, controlled, observer-blinded pilot trial was performed
to assess whether three applications of 1000 impulses of low-energy
shock waves (Group I) led to a superior clinical outcome when compared
with three applications of ten impulses of low-energy shock waves
(Group II) in patients with intractable plantar heel pain. The sample
size was 112. The main outcome measure was patient satisfaction
according to a four-step score (excellent, good, acceptable, and
poor) at six months. Secondary outcome measures were patient satisfaction
according to the four-step score at five years and the severity
of pain on manual pressure, at night, and at rest as well as the
ability to walk without pain at six months and five years.
Results: At six months, the rate of good and excellent
outcomes according to the four-step score was significantly (47%)
better (p < 0.0001) in Group I than in Group II. As assessed
on a visual analog scale, the score for pain caused by manual pressure
at six months had decreased to 19 points, from 77 points before
treatment, in Group I, whereas in Group II the ratings before treatment
and at six months were 79 and 77 points (p < 0.0001 for
the difference between groups). In Group I, twenty-five of forty-nine
patients were able to walk completely without pain at six months
compared with zero of forty-eight patients in Group II (p < 0.0001).
By five years, the difference in the rates of good and excellent
outcomes according to the four-step score was only 11% in
favor of Group I (p = 0.071) because of a high rate of
good and excellent results from subsequent surgery in Group II;
the score for pain caused by manual pressure had decreased to 9
points in Group I and to 29 points in Group II (p = 0.0006
for the difference between groups). At five years, five (13%)
of thirty-eight patients in Group I had undergone an operation of
the heel compared with twenty-three (58%) of forty patients
in Group II (p < 0.0001).
Conclusions: Three treatments with 1000 impulses
of low-energy shock waves appear to be an effective therapy for
plantar fasciitis and may help the patient to avoid surgery for
recalcitrant heel pain. In contrast, three applications of ten impulses
did not improve symptoms substantially.
 CiteULike  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Technorati What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
|
|
 
J. P. Furia
High-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Treatment for Chronic Noninsertional Achilles Tendinopathy
Am. J. Sports Med.,
March 1, 2008;
36(3):
502 - 508.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. D. Beischer, A. Clarke, R. N. de Steiger, L. Donnan, A. Ibuki, and R. Unglik
The Practical Application of Multimedia Technology to Facilitate the Education and Treatment of Patients With Plantar Fasciitis: A Pilot Study
Foot & Ankle Specialist,
February 1, 2008;
1(1):
30 - 38.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe, J. Furia, and N. Maffulli
Eccentric Loading Compared with Shock Wave Treatment for Chronic Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy. A Randomized, Controlled Trial
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am.,
January 1, 2008;
90(1):
52 - 61.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe, J. Furia, L. Weil, and N. Maffulli
Shock wave therapy for chronic plantar fasciopathy
Br. Med. Bull.,
April 24, 2007;
(2007)
ldm005v1.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe, B. Nafe, J. P. Furia, and N. Maffulli
Eccentric Loading, Shock-Wave Treatment, or a Wait-and-See Policy for Tendinopathy of the Main Body of Tendo Achillis: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Am. J. Sports Med.,
March 1, 2007;
35(3):
374 - 383.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I. H W Chow and G. L. Cheing
Comparison of different energy densities of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for the management of chronic heel pain
Clinical Rehabilitation,
February 1, 2007;
21(2):
131 - 141.
[Abstract]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
K. B. Landorf, H. B. Menz, and J. A. Radford
Letters to the editor: effectiveness of extracorporeal shockwave treatment in 353 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.
J Am Podiatr Med Assoc,
May 1, 2006;
96(3):
269 - 270.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. P. Furia
High-Energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy as a Treatment for Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy
Am. J. Sports Med.,
May 1, 2006;
34(5):
733 - 740.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
A. Sems, R. Dimeff, and J. P. Iannotti
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy in the treatment of chronic tendinopathies.
J. Am. Acad. Ortho. Surg.,
April 1, 2006;
14(4):
195 - 204.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.-J. Wang, F.-S. Wang, K. D. Yang, L.-H. Weng, and J.-Y. Ko
Long-term Results of Extracorporeal Shockwave Treatment for Plantar Fasciitis
Am. J. Sports Med.,
April 1, 2006;
34(4):
592 - 596.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe, J. A. Ogden, R. G. Alvarez, and R. L. Levitt
J.A. Ogden, R.G. Alvarez, and R.L. Levitt reply:
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am.,
March 1, 2005;
87(3):
681 - 683.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
F. Zhu, J. E. Johnson, C. B. Hirose, and K. T. Bae
Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: Acute Changes in the Heel after Extracorporeal High-Energy Shock Wave Therapy--Observations at MR Imaging
Radiology,
January 1, 2005;
234(1):
206 - 210.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. A. Ogden, R. G. Alvarez, R. L. Levitt, J. E. Johnson, and M. E. Marlow
Electrohydraulic High-Energy Shock-Wave Treatment for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am.,
October 1, 2004;
86(10):
2216 - 2228.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe and R. Buchbinder
Plantar Fasciitis
N. Engl. J. Med.,
August 19, 2004;
351(8):
834 - 834.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
M. Haake, M. Buch, C. Schoellner, F. Goebel, M. Vogel, I. Mueller, J. Hausdorf, K. Zamzow, C. Schade-Brittinger, and H.-H. Mueller
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis: randomised controlled multicentre trial
BMJ,
July 10, 2003;
327(7406):
75.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
G. P. Guyton and M. S. Mizel
What's New in Foot and Ankle Surgery
J. Bone Joint Surg. Am.,
March 11, 2003;
85(3):
576 - 582.
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Rompe, J. Decking, C. Schoellner, and B. Nafe
Shock Wave Application for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis in Running Athletes: A Prospective, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Am. J. Sports Med.,
March 1, 2003;
31(2):
268 - 275.
[Abstract]
[Full Text]
[PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shock-Wave Therapy for Chronic Heel Pain
Journal Watch Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine,
June 10, 2002;
2002(610):
14 - 14.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shock-Wave Therapy for Chronic Heel Pain
Journal Watch Psychiatry,
May 23, 2002;
2002(523):
16 - 16.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shock-Wave Therapy for Chronic Heel Pain
Journal Watch (General),
April 12, 2002;
2002(412):
4 - 4.
[Full Text]
|
|
|
|
