Comparison of Treatment Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Myofascial Release Techniques in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a treatment using powerful acoustic pulses which is mostly used to treat kidney stones and in physical therapy and orthopedics. Extracorporeal shockwave therapy is used as a second line measure to treat tennis elbow, shoulder rotator cuff pain, Achilles tendinitis, plantar fasciitis, and greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The lithotripter attempts to break up the stone with minimal collateral damage by using an externally applied, focused, high-intensity acoustic pulse. The patient is usually sedated or anesthetized for the procedure in order to help them remain still and reduce possible discomfort.

"Myofascial release (MFR, self-myofascial release) is an alternative medicine therapy claimed to be useful for treating skeletal muscle immobility and pain by relaxing contracted muscles, improving blood and lymphatic circulation and stimulating the stretch reflex in muscles. Writing for Science-Based Medicine, Harriet Hall described myofascial release as an umbrella term for several types of physical manipulation, which might more simply be described as a kind of massage based on vaguely defined scientific notions. Reviews published in 2013 and 2015 evaluating evidence for MFR efficacy found that clinical trials that had been conducted varied in quality, technique, outcome measurements and had mixed outcomes; the 2015 review noted: it is time for scientific evidences on MFR to support its clinical use."

Participants were not given any interventions that had proven effective for treatment. An appointment was made for 5 weeks later.