Department of Physiotherapy, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
Research Institute of Medical and Health Sciences, Neuromusculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Group, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE.
PLoS One. 2024 May 6;19(5):e0302553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0302553. eCollection 2024.
This pilot study primarily aimed to detect the adherence as well as the effect size required to estimate the actual sample size needed for a larger scale study to compare and evaluate the effectiveness of two extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) protocols along, with a physical therapy program in reducing pain and improving function among patients suffering from plantar fasciitis. The study also aimed to report the effects of the ESWT protocols used on pain and function.
A total of 26 participants took part in the study, including 17 females and 9 males. The average age of the participants was 34 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 23 kg/m2. Participants were divided into three equal groups; Group A received ESWT at a frequency of 15 Hz and intensity of 3, Group B received ESWT at a frequency of 10 Hz and intensity of 4, while Group C underwent the selected physical therapy program along with sham shock wave therapy as a control. Pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) while functional improvements were evaluated using the Foot Function Index (FFI). Data was collected prior to treatment, after three sessions and at the end of six weeks (after six sessions).
The three groups were well matched, and the results revealed high adherence rates (90%, 90% and 80% respectively). Results also indicated reductions in pain levels and improvements in function for both intervention groups when compared to the control group. Group A demonstrated better outcomes compared to Group B while Group C showed relatively less improvement.
The study concluded a high adherence rate for the three groups as well as a small effect size detected of 0.282 that would suggest a total of 123 participants to be required to replicate the study on a larger scale. With regards to the findings of this pilot, the combination of ESWT and a targeted physical therapy program revealed a possible effective therapeutic approach for plantar fasciitis, with a higher frequency potentially yielding more favourable results.
本初步研究主要旨在检测两种体外冲击波疗法（ESWT）方案与物理治疗方案相结合治疗足底筋膜炎的疗效，以评估其在减轻疼痛和改善功能方面的实际效果，从而估算出进行更大规模研究所需的样本量，并确定所需的样本量。本研究还旨在报告所使用的 ESWT 方案对疼痛和功能的影响。
共有 26 名参与者参加了这项研究，其中包括 17 名女性和 9 名男性。参与者的平均年龄为 34 岁，体重指数（BMI）为 23kg/m2。参与者被分为三组；A 组接受 15Hz 频率和 3 强度的 ESWT，B 组接受 10Hz 频率和 4 强度的 ESWT，C 组则接受选定的物理治疗方案和假冲击波治疗作为对照。使用视觉模拟评分（VAS）评估疼痛程度，使用足部功能指数（FFI）评估功能改善情况。数据在治疗前、治疗三次后和六周（六次治疗后）时收集。
三组患者的匹配良好，结果显示，三组患者的依从率均较高（分别为 90%、90%和 80%）。与对照组相比，两组干预组的疼痛程度均有所降低，功能均有所改善。A 组的结果优于 B 组，而 C 组的改善相对较少。
本研究得出了三组患者的高依从率以及检测到的小效应量 0.282，表明需要 123 名参与者才能在更大规模上复制该研究。根据本初步研究的结果，ESWT 与靶向物理治疗方案的结合可能为足底筋膜炎提供一种有效的治疗方法，更高的频率可能产生更有利的结果。
