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. 2019 Sep 9;29(3):8372.
doi: 10.4081/ejtm.2019.8372. eCollection 2019 Aug 2.

A global approach for plantar fasciitis with extracorporeal shockwaves treatment

Federico Giordani  1 , Andrea Bernini  1 , Hannes Müller-Ehrenberg  2 , Carla Stecco  3 , Stefano Masiero  1
Affiliations

A global approach for plantar fasciitis with extracorporeal shockwaves treatment

Federico Giordani et al. Eur J Transl Myol. .

Abstract

Extracorporeal Shockwaves Treatment is considered an effective therapeutic option for plantar fasciitis, but the standard application in the medial insertion of the plantar fascia on the calcaneus has provided ambiguous evidences. In this case, a 63-year man with plantar fasciitis was treated in a 3-session program and Foot and Ankle Outcome Scale and Foot Functional Index questionnaires were chosen for the clinical outcome evaluation. The therapy was focused on the active trigger or myofascial points of the leg, thigh and pelvis in order to return the correct equilibrium of the myofascial system of the whole limb. The patient has already reported an improvement after the second session (FAOS: 76 vs 33, FFI: 85%) which was confirmed in the third one and in the 1-month follow up (FAOS: 79, FFI: 6%) Results suggest that plantar fasciitis may be due to proximal rigidity or tension of the fascia and a global approach using ESWT may have a similar or better outcome respect to the standard application.

Keywords: Extracorporeal shockwaves treatment (ESWT); fascia; myofascial impairment; plantar fasciitis.

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Conflict of interest statement

We confirm that we have read the Journal’s position on issues involved in ethical publication and affirm that this report is consistent with those guidelines.

Figures

Fig 1.
Fig 1.
Visual representation of the points selected for the first session (red), second session (green) and third session (blue).
Fig 2.
Fig 2.
Histograms of FAOS subscales scores and FAOS score for the 4-time evaluation.
Fig 3.
Fig 3.
histograms of FFI subscales scores and FFI score for the 4-time evaluation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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