Low-Level Laser Therapy for the Treatment of Chronic Plantar Fasciitis: A Prospective Study
Jastifer JR, Catena F, Doty JF, Stevens F, Coughlin MJ
Foot & ankle international · 22 citations
Review labels
Neutral facts our review recorded about how this study was done. They describe method, never whether we like the result.
How it was studied
- Design
- Case report (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Funding not disclosed
Publication
- Published
- 2014-02-07 · Foot Ankle Int · vol. 35 · issue 6 · pp. 566–571
- Publisher
- SAGE Publishing
- Cited
- 52 citations · more than 85% of similar papers · 2.0× the field average
- References
- 33 works
- Access
- Paywalled
- Research areas
- Tendon Structure and Treatment · Myofascial pain diagnosis and treatment · Shoulder Injury and Treatment
- Keywords
- Medicine, Plantar fasciitis, Visual analogue scale, Heel, Surgery, Fasciitis, Low level laser therapy, Physical therapy, Laser therapy
5 authors
From BR, US
- James R. Jastifer
- Fernanda CatenaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo
- Jesse F. DotyErlanger Health System
- Faustin R. StevensTrios Health
- Michael J. Coughlin
Abstract
Background
Plantar fasciitis affects nearly 1 million people annually in the United States. Traditional nonoperative management is successful in about 90% of patients, usually within 10 months. Chronic plantar fasciitis develops in about 10% of patients and is a difficult clinical problem to treat. A newly emerging technology, low-level laser therapy (LLLT), has demonstrated promising results for the treatment of acute and chronic pain.
Methods
Thirty patients were administered LLLT and completed 12 months of follow-up. Patients were treated twice a week for 3 weeks for a total of 6 treatments and were evaluated at baseline, 2 weeks post procedure, and 6 and 12 months post procedure. Patients completed the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Foot Function Index (FFI) at study follow-up periods.
Results
Patients demonstrated a mean improvement in heel pain VAS from 67.8 out of 100 at baseline to 6.9 out of 100 at the 12-month follow-up period. Total FFI score improved from a mean of 106.2 at baseline to 32.3 at 12 months post procedure.
Conclusion
Although further studies are warranted, this study shows that LLLT is a promising treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
Level of evidence
Level IV, case series.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher.
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