Plantar Fasciopathy and the Effectiveness of Radial Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Physical Training or Usual Care

Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT), sham- rESWT or standardised exercise program is more effective on change in heel pain than usual care in the treatment of plantar fasciopathy.

The null hypothesis is: There is no difference between rESWT, sham- rESWT or standardised exercise program on change in heel pain (primary outcome) and functioning (secondary outcomes) compared to usual care in the treatment of plantar fasciopathy at 6 months follow-up (and secondary outcomes at the 12 months follow-up).

Alternative hypothesis is:

H1: There is a difference between rESWT and usual care on change in heel pain (and secondary outcomes) at the 6 months follow-up (and secondary outcomes at the 12 months follow-up).

H2: There is a difference between sham-rESWT and usual care on change in heel pain (and secondary outcomes ) at 6 months follow-up (and secondary outcomes at the 12 months follow-up).

H3: There is a difference between standardized exercise program and usual care on change in heel pain (and secondary outcomes) at 6 months follow- up (and secondary outcomes at the 12 months follow-up).

Conditions

• Plantar Fascitis

Interventions

DEVICE

Radial extracorporeal shock wave

Patients will receive treatment once a week for 3 weeks. Treatment will be administered by using the rESWT device named Swiss DolorClast (EMS). 2000 impulses are implied via the power hand piece to the area of max tenderness at the insertion of the plantar fascia, with a pressure of 1.5-3 bars depending on what the patient tolerates. The treatments will be given by a trained physiotherapist at our Department. Patients will also receive standardized information at baseline, and will get custom made foot orthosis.

DEVICE

Sham-radial extracorporeal shock wave

Patients will receive the same treatment as the patients in the group receiving real shock waves, but no real shock waves are conducted. The probe is similar in design, sound and shape. Patients will also receive standardized information at baseline, and will get custom made foot orthosis.

BEHAVIORAL

Standardized high-load exercise program

Patients will be instructed to do 2 exercises: "Unilateral heel raise" and "unilateral leg squat" three times a week for 12 weeks. The patients will have a total of 8 sessions supervised by a physiotherapist at our Department. Patients will also receive standardized information at baseline, and will get custom made foot orthosis.

BEHAVIORAL

Usual care

Patients will get standardized information as in the other three intervention groups with information on pathogenesis, etiology and prognosis, and they will get custom made foot orthosis

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Oslo University Hospital

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Aasne Fenne Hoksrud, MD, PhD · Oslo University hospital, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2018-03-21

Primary Completion

2022-09-07

Completion

2023-02-22

Countries

• Norway

Study Locations