Comparison of extracorporeal shock wave therapy with botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of plantar fasciitis

Abstract

Objective: To compare the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) with botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A) in the treatment of plantar fasciitis (PF).

Design: Open label, prospective, randomized study.

Results: A total of 72 patients were included. In all participants the median (and interquartile range) of the visual analog scale (VAS) of pain result, when taking the first steps, was 8 (6–9) points before treatment and 6 (4–8) points after treatment (p < 0.001). In the group of patients that received ESWT, the median (and interquartile range) of improvement in the VAS of pain result, when taking the first steps, was 2 (1–4) points, and in the group of patients that received BoNT-A the same result was 1 (0–2) points (p = 0.009). In the group of patients that received ESWT, the median (and interquartile range) of improvement in the Roles and Maudsley scale of pain result was 1 (0–1) points, and in the group of patients that received BoNT-A the same result was 0 (0–1) points (p = 0.006). In a multivariate analysis use of ESWT and lower weight were associated with improvement of pain with treatment in at least one of the three VAS of pain scales used in the study.

Conclusion: ESWT was superior to BoNT-A in the control of pain in patients with PF.

Implications for Rehabilitation

• Plantar fasciitis is characterized by pain at the calcaneal origin of the plantar fascia, exacerbated by weight bearing after prolonged periods of rest.

• Although studies comparing extracorporeal shock wave therapy or botulinum toxin type A to placebo suggest a superiority of the first one, no reliable data exist about it.

• Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was superior to botulinum toxin type A in the control of pain in patients with PF.

Keywords:

• Botulinum toxin type A (BoNT-A)
• extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT)
• plantar fasciitis (PF)
• visual analog scale (VAS) of pain

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding this work.