Study Summary

54 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis were randomized to receive ultrasound-guided Zhengqing Fengtongning (ZQFTN) injections or ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections with compound betamethasone. The primary outcomes of interest were pain severity measured by the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), foot function measured by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and plantar fascia thickness measured by ultrasound. Outcomes were assessed at baseline, 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Overall, the results of the study revealed significant improvements in pain, function, and plantar fascia thickness in both groups over time. At 3 months, the ZQFTN group demonstrated superior pain relief, functional improvement, and greater reductions in plantar fascia thickness compared with the corticosteroid group. These findings suggest that ultrasound-guided ZQFTN injections may provide a more effective long-term treatment option than corticosteroid injections for chronic plantar fasciitis.