title: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis: randomised controlled multicentre trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy compared with placebo in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised, blinded, multicentre trial with parallel group design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine hospitals and one outpatient clinic in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  272 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis recalcitrant to conservative therapy for at least six months: 135 patients were allocated extracorporeal shock wave therapy and 137 were allocated placebo.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary end point was the success rate 12 weeks after intervention based on the Roles and Maudsley score. Secondary end points encompassed subjective pain ratings and walking ability up to a year after the last intervention.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary end point could be assessed in 94% (n=256) of patients. The success rate 12 weeks after intervention was 34% (n=43) in the extracorporeal shock wave therapy group and 30% (n=39) in the placebo group (95% confidence interval - 8.0% to 15.1%). No difference was found in the secondary end points. Few side effects were reported.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is ineffective in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis.
authors.affiliation: Orthopädische Klinik, Universität Regensburg, 93077 Bad Abbach, Germany. m.haake@rheumaortho-zentrum.de
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haake
authors.forename: Mathias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buch
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schoellner
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goebel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Ingo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hausdorf
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zamzow
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schade-Brittinger
authors.forename: Hans-Helge
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Mueller
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged