Radial Extracorporeal Shock Wave Treatment for Chronic Plantar Fasciopathy

"Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy (rESWT) was performed by the principal investigator with a Swiss DolorClast device (EMS Electro Medical Systems Corporation; Dallas, Texas, USA).~The Swiss DolorClast device obtained Pre-Market Approval (PMA) by FDA as Class III orthopedic lithotripsy device to treat heel pain associated with chronic proximal plantar fasciitis on May 8, 2007 (PMA # P050004), and was re-classified as Class III Generator, Shock Wave, For Pain Relief (Product Code NBN) in the Spring 2009. The present study started on October 3, 2007.~Each patient received two sessions of rESWT one week apart, with 2,000 impulses per session (air pressure of the device set at 3.5 bar; impulses applied with the 15 mm applicator at frequency of 8 Hz)."

Placebo treatment was performed identically as rESWT but with a clasp on the heel that prevented transmission of the impulses from the applicator to the skin at the treatment site.