Treatment of painful heels using extracorporeal shock wave.
OBJECTIVE
Shock wave therapy has been shown to improve many tendinopathies at the tendon-bone junction. The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of painful heels.


METHODS
Sixty-six patients, including 45 women and 21 men with an average age of 47.70 years (range, 19-75 years), were included in the study. Each patient received 1,000 impulses of shock waves at a 14-kV generator voltage at the affected site under local anesthesia. Twelve patients received a second treatment, and two patients received a third treatment.


RESULTS
Of 58 patients with 6 weeks' follow-up, five (9%) were complaint-free, 21 (37%) were significantly better, 27 (47%) were slightly better, and five (9%) were unchanged. Of 41 patients with 12 weeks' follow-up, 11 (27%) were complaint-free, 22 (54%) were significantly better, seven (17%) were slightly better, and one (2%) was unchanged. The results at 12 weeks were much better than those at 6 weeks. The effect of shock waves on painful heels continued between 6 and 12 weeks. Twelve patients who did not respond favorably to the first treatment showed significantly better results after a second treatment. Two patients who had a third treatment also achieved satisfactory results. There were no device-related problems or systemic or local complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is a new modality that is safe and effective in the treatment of painful heel spurs.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical Center, Taiwan.
C J
CJ
Wang
H S
HS
Chen
W S
WS
Chen
L M
LM
Chen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006365:Heel; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management