Pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field therapy: a potential novel treatment of plantar fasciitis.
Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, and although treatments are usually conservative, they can take up to 2 years to achieve resolution. A double-blind, multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled study was used to evaluate a small, wearable, extended-use pulsed radiofrequency electromagnetic field (PRFE) device as a treatment of plantar fasciitis. A total of 70 subjects diagnosed with plantar fasciitis were enrolled in the present study. The subjects were randomly assigned a placebo or active PRFE device. The subjects were instructed to wear the PRFE device overnight, record their morning and evening pain using a 0- to 10-point visual analog scale (VAS), and log any medication use. The primary outcome measure for the present study was morning pain, a hallmark of plantar fasciitis. The study group using the active PRFE device showed progressive decline in morning pain. The day 7 AM-VAS score was 40% lower than the day 1 AM-VAS score. The control group, in comparison, showed a 7% decline. A significantly different decline was demonstrated between the 2 groups (p = .03). The PM-VAS scores declined by 30% in the study group and 19% in the control group, although the difference was not significant. Medication use in the study group also showed a trend downward, but the use in the control group remained consistent with the day 1 levels. PRFE therapy worn on a nightly basis appears to offer a simple, drug-free, noninvasive therapy to reduce the pain associated with plantar fasciitis.
Dallas Podiatry Works, Dallas, TX, USA.
Joel
J
Brook
Damien M
DM
Dauphinee
Jaryl
J
Korpinen
Ian M
IM
Rawe
D004311:Double-Blind Method; D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D055909:Magnetic Field Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010146:Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods; D010147:Pain Measurement; D061208:Pulsed Radiofrequency Treatment; D011788:Quality of Life; D016896:Treatment Outcome