title: Is extracorporeal shock wave therapy clinical efficacy for relief of chronic, recalcitrant plantar fasciitis? A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized placebo or active-treatment controlled trials.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) and provide clinicians with an evidence base for their clinical decision making.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews.
  
  
  METHODS
  All randomized or quasi-randomized controlled trials of ESWT for chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis were searched. Searching identified 108 potentially relevant articles; of these, 7 studies with 550 participants met inclusion criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Number of patients, population, body mass index, duration of symptoms, adverse effects, blinding method, and details of shockwave therapy were extracted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For intervention success rate, ESWT of low intensity was more effective than control treatment of low intensity. For pain relief, the pooled data showed a significant difference between the ESWT and control groups. For function, only low-intensity ESWT was significantly superior over the control treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The efficacy of low-intensity ESWT is worthy of recognition. The short-term pain relief and functional outcomes of this treatment are satisfactory. However, owing to the lack of a long-term follow-up, its long-term efficacy remains unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Meng-Chen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Jun
authors.initials: XJ
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ye
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Qi-Xing
authors.initials: QX
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zheng-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Tong
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xue-Qun
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Ming
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Shanghai Longhua Hospital, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: Mw2218@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mo
mesh_terms: D036981:Fasciitis, Plantar / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
keywords: Rehabilitation