Riassunto dello studio

One hundred twenty-seven patients with chronic plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive iontophoresis therapy with lidocaine 0.4% and dexamethasone 0.5% (n=63) or radial extracorporeal shockwave therapy (rESWT) (n=64). The primary outcome of interest was pain reduction measured using the visual analog scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes included plantar fascia thickness assessed by ultrasound and health-related quality of life using the EuroQol-5D questionnaire. Outcomes were assessed weekly for 5 weeks, with additional follow-up at 12 weeks. Overall, the study revealed that rESWT led to significantly faster pain relief compared to iontophoresis, with complete pain remission occurring by week three in the rESWT group. By week six, both treatments achieved complete pain remission. Additionally, patients reported a better perception of rESWT at the end of treatment. These findings suggest that rESWT provides more rapid symptom relief, while both treatments effectively reduce pain over time.