title: Efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave treatment in calcaneal enthesophytosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave treatment (ESWT) in calcaneal enthesophytosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients (43 women, 17 men) were examined who had talalgia associated with heel spur. A single blind randomised study was performed in which 30 patients underwent a regular treatment (group 1) and 30 a simulated one (shocks of 0 mJ/mm(2) energy were applied) (group 2). Variations in symptoms were evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS). Variations in the dimension of enthesophytosis were evaluated by x ray examination. Variations in the grade of enthesitis were evaluated by sonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A significant decrease of VAS was seen in group 1. Examination by x ray showed morphological modifications (reduction of the larger diameter >1 mm) of the enthesophytosis in nine (30%) patients. Sonography did not show significant changes in the grade of enthesitis just after the end of the treatment, but a significant reduction was seen after one month. In the control group no significant decrease of VAS was seen. No modification was observed by x ray examination or sonography.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESWT is safe and improves the symptoms of most patients with a painful heel, it can also structurally modify enthesophytosis, and reduce inflammatory oedema.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Rheumatology, University of Siena, Italy. r.cosentino@katamail.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cosentino
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manca
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frati
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Frediani
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Selvi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marcolongo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002111:Calcaneus; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome