--- title: "Plantar fasciitis: shockwave tx, endoscopic fasciotomy. | Sutter Health" description: "Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy and extracorporeal sound wave therapy are both effective treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis." url: "https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338" --- 1. [Home](https://www.sutterhealth.org/) / 2. [Research](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research) / 3. [Research publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications) / 4. Plantar fasciitis: shockwave tx, endoscopic fasciotomy. # Comparison between extracorporeal shockwave therapy, placebo ESWT and endoscopic plantar fasciotomy for the treatment of chronic plantar heel pain in the athlete. Saxena A, Fournier M, Gerdesmeyer L, & Gollwitzer H. _Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 2(4):312-6. Print 2012 Oct._ 2013-01-21 ## Abstract Plantar fasciitis can be a chronic and debilitating condition affecting athletes of all levels. The aim of this study is to compare treatment outcomes for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis in athletes, comparing focused extra corporeal sound wave therapy (ESWT) and the surgical endoscopic plantar fasciotomy (EPF). A total of 37 eligible patients were enrolled in the study between May 2006 and December 2008 at a single institution. Patients were either enrolled in the surgical group, or to the ESWT group which included a placebo controlled, randomized group (P-ESWT). Pre and post Visual Analog Scores (VAS) and Roles and Maudlsey (RM) scores were recorded and compared between the three groups. The patient's return to activity (RTA) was also documented. The results showed statistical improvement within the EPF and ESWT groups with both VAS & RM scores, with EPF being significantly better than both ESWT and P-ESWT in terms of treatment outcomes. Patients enrolled in the ESWT were able though to continue with their exercise regimen, while the EPF group was able to return to their athletic activity in an average of 2.8 months. In conclusion, EPF and ESWT are both effective forms of treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis; EPF being superior in outcomes yet ESWT treatment could be preferable since the athlete can remain active during treatment. [PubMed abstract](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23738317) ## Research topics - [Disease Management](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Disease+Management%5C%22%22) - [Musculoskeletal Disorders](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?query=%22%5C%22Musculoskeletal+Disorders%5C%22%22) ## Related publications [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) - Publication ### [Percutaneous plating of Weber B fibular fractures.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/percutaneous-plate-weber-b-fibula-fx-1055312373) Saxena A, Yun A. J Foot Ankle Surg. pii: S1067-2516(16)30393-3. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2016.11.012. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2017 Jan 12 - Publication ### [Medial displacement calcaneal osteotomy: a comparison of screw versus locking plate fixation.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/medial-displacemt-calcaneal-osteotomy-treatmt-1055312506) Saxena A, Patel R. J Foot Ankle Surg. pii: S1067-2516(16)30162-4. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2016.06.006. \[Epub ahead of print\] 2016 Sep 15 - Publication ### [Vibration and pressure wave therapy for calf strains: a proposed treatment.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/vibration-pressure-wave-tx-calf-strains-1055312323) Saxena A, St Louis M, Fournier M. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J. 3(2):60-2. doi: 10.11138/mltj/2013.3.2.060. Print 2013 Apr. 2013 Jul 09 - Publication ### [Osteoarthritis of the ankle: the role of arthroplasty.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/arthroplasty-ankle-osteoarthritis-1055312979) Chou LB, Coughlin MT, Hansen S Jr, Haskell A, Lundeen G, Saltzman CL, Mann RA. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 16(5):249-59. 2008 May 01 - Publication ### [Treatment of medial tibial stress syndrome with radial soundwave therapy in elite athletes: current evidence, report on two cases, and proposed treatment regimen.](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/medial-tibial-stress-syndrome-radial-soundwave-therapy-1055312476) Saxena A, Fullem B, Gerdesmeyer L. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2017 Sep - Oct;56(5):985-989. doi: 10.1053/j.jfas.2017.06.013. Review. 2017 Sep 01 [View all publications](https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?verticalKey=research_publication) ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Research","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Research publications","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":4,"name":"Plantar fasciitis: shockwave tx, endoscopic fasciotomy."}]} ``` ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalScholarlyArticle","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338#medicalscholarlyarticle","name":"Comparison between extracorporeal shockwave therapy, placebo ESWT and endoscopic plantar fasciotomy for the treatment of chronic plantar heel pain in the athlete.","headline":"Plantar fasciitis: shockwave tx, endoscopic fasciotomy.","abstract":"Plantar fasciitis can be a chronic and debilitating condition affecting athletes of all levels. The aim of this study is to compare treatment outcomes for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis in athletes, comparing focused extra corporeal sound wave therapy (ESWT) and the surgical endoscopic plantar fasciotomy (EPF). A total of 37 eligible patients were enrolled in the study between May 2006 and December 2008 at a single institution. Patients were either enrolled in the surgical group, or to the ESWT group which included a placebo controlled, randomized group (P-ESWT). Pre and post Visual Analog Scores (VAS) and Roles and Maudlsey (RM) scores were recorded and compared between the three groups. The patient's return to activity (RTA) was also documented. The results showed statistical improvement within the EPF and ESWT groups with both VAS & RM scores, with EPF being significantly better than both ESWT and P-ESWT in terms of treatment outcomes. Patients enrolled in the ESWT were able though to continue with their exercise regimen, while the EPF group was able to return to their athletic activity in an average of 2.8 months. In conclusion, EPF and ESWT are both effective forms of treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis; EPF being superior in outcomes yet ESWT treatment could be preferable since the athlete can remain active during treatment.","description":"Endoscopic plantar fasciotomy and extracorporeal sound wave therapy are both effective treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis.","keywords":["Disease Management","Musculoskeletal Disorders"],"datePublished":"2013-01-21","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338","inLanguage":"en-US","identifier":[{"@type":"PropertyValue","propertyID":"PMID","value":"23738317"}],"sameAs":["https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23738317/"],"isPartOf":{"@type":"Periodical","name":"Muscles Ligaments Tendons J"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Saxena A"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Fournier M"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Gerdesmeyer L"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Gollwitzer H"}],"sourceOrganization":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute"},"about":[{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Disease Management","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Disease+Management%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"},{"@type":"DefinedTerm","name":"Musculoskeletal Disorders","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research-search-results?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_researchTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Musculoskeletal+Disorders%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=research_publication"}],"mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/research/publications/heel-pain-shockwave-tx-endosc-fasciotomy-1055312338#breadcrumblist"}}} ```