Aim Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is known as one of the most
effective treatment methods in plantar fasciitis (PF). Low-dye taping,
which is the most preferred method of banding treatments, provides an
analgesic effect by correcting biomechanics. It was aimed to compare the
efficacy of adjuvant low-dye kinesio-taping (KT), sham-taping, or
extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) alone in plantar fasciitis (PF).
Methods In this double-blind, sham-controlled study, forty-five patients
with PF were randomized to 3-group (Group 1: ESWT plus low-dye KT, n=15;
Group 2: ESWT plus Sham-taping, n=15; and Group 3: ESWT only, n=15)
five-session ESWT were administrated. KT was performed and changed every
1-week for the ESWT sessions in Groups 1 and 2. The main outcome
measures were the visual analog scale (VAS) change, the heel tenderness
index (HTI), foot function index (FFI). The patients were evaluated at
the beginning and end of the treatment and the 4-week follow-up. Results
The demographic characteristics and baseline outcomes between groups
were similar (p>0.05). VAS and HTI changes were observed in
all three groups, there was no difference between groups.
Repeated-measures ANOVA showed a significant interaction between the
time and the groups in FFI-total (F3.919= 2.607; p=.043). At the 4-week
follow-up, when Groups 1 and 2 were evaluated, the lower FFI-total,
FFI-disability, and FFI-activity limitation were statistically
significant in Group 1 (p=0.027; p=0.026; p=0.029, respectively). When
Group 1 and 3 were compared, the decrease in FFI-pain and FFI-activity
limitation were significant in Group 1 (p=0.042; p=0.035, respectively).
Conclusions Low-dye KT, in addition to ESWT, is more effective than
sham-taping and ESWT in pain relief and foot function improvement due to
PF at a 4-week follow-up.
Short-term efficacy of kinesiotaping versus extracorporeal shockwave therapy for plantar fasciitis: A randomized study