Treatment for plantar fasciitis (PF) includes pain management through anti-inflammatory drugs, stretching exercises, night-splint therapy, steroidal medications, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT). While ESWT has proven to be beneficial and effective in reducing heel pain, it is expensive and has adverse effects such as increased pain sensitivity, especially in chronic cases. To this end, a team of researchers led by Dr. JongEun Yim, associate professor of physical therapy and director of the Active Aging Research Center at Sahmyook University in Seoul, South Korea, explored the use of local vibration (LV) in combination with ESWT to treat PF.

Interestingly, the study revealed the combination of LV and ESWT as an effective approach for treating chronic PF. The team conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 34 participants that were divided into 2 treatment groups. One group received a combination of LV and ESWT, while the other group underwent ESWT alone. Parameters were assessed at the beginning and end of a 5-week treatment period, including ultrasonography to track plantar fascia thickness, and a questionnaire to evaluate plantar-heel pain and foot function. The results indicated that using the LV and ESWT combination was more effective and significant in reducing the thickness of the plantar fascia and heel pain.

“LV devices are portable, inexpensive, and reduce pain after PF treatment,” said Yim. “This study highlighting the novel combination approach may help to establish a treatment protocol for the PF condition.”