Comparison of the short-term efficacy of peloid and paraffin treatments on pain and quality of life in the treatment of plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled study.

研究概要

One hundred four patients with plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive peloid therapy plus home exercise (n=40), paraffin therapy plus home exercise (n=40), or home exercise alone (n=40). The primary outcome of interest was pain reduction, assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Heel Tenderness Index (HTI). Secondary outcomes included foot function and quality of life, measured using the Foot and Ankle Outcome Score (FAOS) and SF-36 quality of life scale. Outcomes were assessed before treatment, after treatment, and at one month post-treatment. Overall, the study revealed significant pain reduction and improved quality of life in all three groups, with greater improvements observed in the peloid and paraffin therapy groups compared to exercise alone. Peloid therapy was more effective than paraffin therapy in pain reduction. These findings suggest that adding peloid or paraffin therapy to exercise can enhance symptom relief in plantar fasciitis.