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. 2020 May;99(19):e19920.
doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000019920.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy versus corticosteroid injection for chronic plantar fasciitis: A protocol of randomized controlled trial

Jie Zhao  1 , Wen Ming Luo  1 , Tingting Li  2
Affiliations

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy versus corticosteroid injection for chronic plantar fasciitis: A protocol of randomized controlled trial

Jie Zhao et al. Medicine (Baltimore). 2020 May.

Expression of concern in

  • Expression of Concern: Study Protocols.
    [No authors listed] [No authors listed] Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Nov 7;104(45):e46330. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000046330. Medicine (Baltimore). 2025. PMID: 41204616 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

Abstract

Background: The outcomes of corticosteroid injection (CSI) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) as primary treatment of plantar fasciitis have been debated. This study was conducted to compare and evaluate the therapeutic effects of ultrasound-guided CSI versus medium frequency ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis among Chinese population.

Methods: This study was a single-center, randomized, and double-blinded trial. The study protocol was approved by local ethics committee board and subsequently registered in Research Registry. Eighty patients with unilateral plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive either ESWT (3 times once per week) (n = 40) or CSI treatment (a single 1-mL dose of betamethasone sodium plus 0.5 mL of prilocaine under ultrasound guidance by injection into the plantar fascia) (n = 40). The primary outcome measures were visual analog scale and Foot Function Index scores. Secondary outcome measures included the heel tenderness index score and plantar fascia thickness as obtained by ultrasound examination. All of the assessments were performed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after treatment.

Results: This is a randomized controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of CSI versus ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. This study has limited inclusion and exclusion criteria and a well-controlled intervention.

Conclusions: The results of this trial will provide more evidence on which method can better treat plantar fasciitis.

Trial registration: This study protocol was registered in Research Registry (researchregistry5428).

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow diagram of the study.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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