OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy compared with placebo in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. DESIGN: Randomised, blinded, multicentre trial with parallel group design. SETTING: Nine hospitals and one outpatient clinic in Germany. PARTICIPANTS: 272 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis recalcitrant to conservative therapy for at least six months: 135 patients were allocated extracorporeal shock wave therapy and 137 were allocated placebo. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary end point was the success rate 12 weeks after intervention based on the Roles and Maudsley score. Secondary end points encompassed subjective pain ratings and walking ability up to a year after the last intervention. RESULTS: The primary end point could be assessed in 94% (n = 256) of patients. The success rate 12 weeks after intervention was 34% (n = 43) in the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group and 30% (n = 39) in the placebo group (95% confidence interval 8.0% to 15.1%). No difference was found in the secondary end points. Few side effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is ineffective in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
Reproduced with permission from the BMJ Publishing Group.

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