Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Pain Med 2019 Apr 15. Epub 2019 Apr 15.

Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Objective: Pain experienced by patients with plantar heel pain has been associated with fascia thickness. It is possible that referred muscle pain may also be related to symptoms experienced by these patients. Our aim was to systematically investigate if the referred pain elicited by trigger points in the leg and foot musculature reproduces the symptoms in individuals with plantar heel pain and to determine the association of trigger points (TrPs) with pain and related disability. Read More

Foot (Edinb) 2019 Feb 11;39:50-54. Epub 2019 Feb 11.

Section for Sports Traumatology M51, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Background: Endoscopic operations for plantar fasciitis generally have good clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to record the effect of endoscopic partial fasciotomy and heel spur removal and evaluate by ultrasonography whether the fascia regenerates and the heel spur reforms.

Methods: Eleven consecutive patients were evaluated before and 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. Read More

BMJ Open 2019 Apr 3;9(4):e026147. Epub 2019 Apr 3.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion Department, Guang'anmen Hospital Affiliated to China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Introduction: Plantar heel pain syndrome(PHPS) is a common cause of heel pain. It may worsen a patient's quality of life, and potentially lead to knee, hip or lower back problems. Previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture (EA) and manual acupuncture (MA) are effective treatments for relieving pain in patients with PHPS. Read More

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019 Apr;49(4):285

A 28-year-old man was referred to physical therapy from his primary care provider with variable and intermittent left lateral plantar heel pain that began insidiously about 10 months prior. Radiographs of the foot and ankle were completed prior to the physical therapy evaluation and interpreted as noncontributory. Because his pain and function were minimally improved after 4 weeks, the patient was referred for magnetic resonance imaging. Read More

J Am Podiatr Med Assoc 2019 Mar 27. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

¶ Regis University School of Physical Therapy.

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2019 Mar 26:1-26. Epub 2019 Mar 26.

Department of Radiology, Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Background: Plantar heel pain is one of the most common foot pain conditions treated by healthcare providers.

Objective: To investigate differences in topographical pressure pain sensitivity maps of the feet between patients with unilateral plantar heel pain and healthy subjects and to determine the relationship between topographical pressure maps, pain intensity, disability and fascia thickness.

Methods: Thirty-five patients with unilateral plantar heel pain and 35 matched healthy controls participated. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2019 Mar 23. Epub 2019 Mar 23.

Podiatric Surgeon, Co-Director, and Fellowship Director, University Foot and Ankle Institute, Santa Monica, CA.

Intense therapeutic ultrasound for chronic plantar fasciitis musculoskeletal tissue pain reduction was evaluated in a pivotal clinical trial examining effectiveness, safety, and patient tolerance. In this single-blinded study, 33 patients received 2 treatments that were 4 weeks apart on plantar fascia tissue along with conservative standard of care. Patients were followed for up to 6 months after the first treatment, receiving a physical examination and diagnostic ultrasound at each follow-up visit and completing patient-/subject-reported outcome measure and Foot Function Index surveys. Read More

Dtsch Arztebl Int 2019 Feb;116(6):83-88

* Joint first authors; Department of Orthopedics, Trauma and Reconstructive Surgery, University of Halle-Wittenberg.

Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is characterized by pain on weight-bearing in the medial plantar area of the heel, metatarsalgia (MTG) by pain on the plantar surface of the forefoot radiating into the toes. Reliable figures on lifetime prevalence in Germany are lacking.

Methods: This review is based on pertinent publications retrieved from a selective search in PubMed, on guidelines from Germany and abroad, and on the authors' clinical experience. Read More

Braz J Phys Ther 2019 Mar 11. Epub 2019 Mar 11.

Department of Physical Therapy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address:

Background: Plantar fasciitis is commonly found among the physically active population, including conscripts. Some studies have reported that being overweight and having psychological symptoms contribute to pain from plantar fasciitis. However, there is a lack of information regarding the physical predictors, and more research is needed to determine the relationship between such predictors and pain intensity from plantar fasciitis in conscripts. Read More

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 2019 ;86(1):65-71

Ortopedická klinika Fakultní nemocnice Olomouc.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY The prospective study evaluates the short-term outcomes of endoscopic treatment of calcar calcanei in patients who underwent unsuccessfully more than 6 months of conservative therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Our study included 34 patients with refractory plantar fasciitis, in whom endoscopic treatment of inferior calcar calcanei with partial plantar fasciotomy was performed in the period from 01. 01. Read More

Med Sci Monit 2019 Feb 21;25:1392-1400. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Department of Pain, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China (mainland).

BACKGROUND Traditional ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are not effective in treating plantar fasciitis, while customized 3-dimensional (3D) printed ankle-foot orthoses are effective in treating many ankle-foot diseases. This study investigated the effects of customized 3D printed AFOs on biomechanics and comfort of the plantar foot in plantar fasciitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS Sixty patients with bilateral plantar fasciitis aged 31-60 years participated in this study. Read More

Orthopade 2019 Mar;48(3):261-280

Klinik für Orthopädische Chirurgie und Traumatologie des Bewegungsapparats, Sektion Fuß- und Sprunggelenkchirurgie, Kantonspital St. Gallen, Rorschacher Str. 95, 9007, St. Gallen, Schweiz.

"Heel pain" describes a very common reason for foot orthopedic consultation and the further differential diagnostic investigation is crucial for the choice of correct treatment. In the treatment of frequent underlying diseases, such as plantar fasciitis or insertional tendinopathy of the Achilles tendon, a variety of modern strategies are available. Rarer diseases, such as tumors or nerve entrapment syndromes must be delineated and correctly classified. Read More

Pain Physician 2019 01;22(1):109-116

Department of Nursing and Physical Therapy, Institute of Biomedicine, University of León, Ponferrada, León, Spain.

Background: Heel pain is one of the most frequent complaints in medical clinical practice for conditions affecting the feet during weight-bearing tasks.

Objective: The goal of this study was to measure and compare the thickness of the fat pad in a sample of patients with current unilateral heel pain and patients without unilateral heel pain with normalized reference parameters.

Study Design: This was an observational case-control study. Read More

J Bodyw Mov Ther 2019 Jan 1;23(1):122-137. Epub 2018 Jun 1.

Universidad San Jorge, iPhysio Research Group, Campus Universitario, Autov. A23, km 299, 50830, Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain. Electronic address:

Background: Minimally invasive non-surgical techniques have been widely used worldwide to treat musculoskeletal injuries. Of these techniques, injectable pharmaceutical agents are the most commonly employed treatments, with corticosteroids being the most widely used drugs. The aim of this article is to review current scientific evidence as well as the effectiveness of minimally invasive non-surgical techniques, either alone or combined, for the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Read More

J Orthop Surg Res 2019 Jan 25;14(1):31. Epub 2019 Jan 25.

iPhysio Research Group, Universidad San Jorge, Campus Universitario, Autov. A23 km 299, 50830. Villanueva de Gállego, Zaragoza, Spain.

Background: Both manual therapy techniques and dry needling have shown to be effective treatment options for the treatment of plantar heel pain; however, in recent years, other techniques based on dry needling (DN), such as percutaneous needle electrolysis (PNE), have also emerged. Currently, PNE is being used in clinical practice to manage myofascial trigger points, despite the lack of studies comparing the effects of this technique over dry needling. Therefore, the aim of this randomized controlled study is to compare the effectiveness of DN versus PNE for improving the level of pain experienced by patients suffering from plantar heel pain provoked by myofascial trigger points. Read More

Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Dec 23. Epub 2018 Dec 23.

International Center for Hip, Knee and Foot Surgery, ATOS Clinic, Heidelberg, Germany. Electronic address:

Purpose: To clarify whether endoscopic plantar fascia release is safe and effective in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Secondary goals were a. to compare the clinical outcome between EPFR and non-operative treatment and b. Read More

Curr Pain Headache Rep 2019 Jan 19;23(1). Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, 600 Highland Avenue, B6/319 CSC, Madison, WI, 53792-3272, USA.

Background: Chronic pain of the lower extremity remains challenging to manage. Radiofrequency treatment applies heat to nerve fibers with the goal of mitigating chronic pain conditions. The clinical efficacy has not yet been adequately established for pathologies of the ankle and foot. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2019 Jan;98(3):e14088

Department of Rehabilitation.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for plantar fasciitis (PF) may be beneficial. However, the convincing study investigating its effectiveness for treatment of PF was scarce. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess whether LLLT significantly relieve pain of patients with PF. Read More

Biomed Res Int 2018 12;2018:3594150. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Aix-Marseille Université, CNRS, UMR 7287 Institut des Sciences du Mouvement: Etienne-Jules MAREY (ISM), Equipe Plasticité des Systèmes Nerveux et Musculaire (PSNM), Parc Scientifique et Technologique de Luminy, Faculté des Sciences du Sport de Marseille, CC910 - 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288 Marseille Cedex 09, France.

Plantar is a cause of chronic pain under the heel and bottom of the foot. One of the treatments to reduce pain consists of using plantar orthoses to address specific imbalances during foot placement or gait. The aim of the present study was to determine if reduction of pain with a treatment based on plantar orthoses is related to changes in reflexes and muscle activity of the muscles of the lower limbs. Read More

Foot (Edinb) 2019 Jan 4;38:61-64. Epub 2019 Jan 4.

Center for General Practice at Aalborg University, Fyrkildevej 7, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark; Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, Faculty of Medicine, Aalborg University, Fredrik Bajers Vej 7D, 9220 Aalborg East, Denmark; Department of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, Aalborg University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9100 Aalborg, Denmark. Electronic address:

Background: The Foot Health Status Questionnaire (FHSQ) is recommended as a valid and reliable patient-reported outcome for individuals with plantar heel pain (PHP). The aim of this study was to translate and culturally adapt the FHSQ into Danish and investigate face and construct validity among patients with PHP.

Methods: The translation was made using the dual-panel approach. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2018 Nov 25:1-4. Epub 2018 Nov 25.

c Division of Metabolic Diseases and Auxology , Italian Institute of Auxology, IRRCS , Piancavallo , Italy.

Purpose: Obesity increases the stresses applied to the foot. Ergonomic rocker sole shoes increase energy expenditure of standing and walking in obese individuals but could potentially alter plantar pressure distribution. The aim of this study was to compare plantar pressure distribution during standing and walking between rocker sole and flat-bottomed shoes in obese subjects. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2019 Jan 15;58(1):42-46. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedics, Padmashree Dr. D.Y. Patil University School of Medicine, Navi Mumbai, India.

Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a supersaturated concentration of autologous platelets that augments the natural healing response of fascia. Previous studies have shown the superiority of PRP over corticosteroids (CS) for chronic plantar fasciitis. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Oct;97(43):e12819

Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.

Background: Plantar fasciitis is one of the most common causes of adult heel pain. The aim of this study is to comprehensively compare the effectiveness of various therapies for plantar fasciitis using network meta-analysis.

Methods: Studies were comprehensively searched on Embase, MEDLINE via PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) up to December 4, 2017. Read More

Surg Radiol Anat 2019 Jan 27;41(1):29-41. Epub 2018 Oct 27.

Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Division of Clinical and Functional Anatomy, Medical University of Innsbruck, Müllerstr. 59, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria.

Purpose: Neuropathy of the Baxter nerve (BN) seems to be the first cause of the heel pain syndrome (HPS) of neurological origin.

Methods: 41 alcohol-glycerol embalmed feet were dissected. We documented the pattern of the branches of the tibial nerve (TN) and describe all relevant osteofibrous structures. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Nov - Dec;57(6):1181-1185

Professor and Radiation Oncologist, Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology, Saarland University Hospital, Hamburg, Germany.

The aim of this study was to determine the diagnostic capability of a dynamic gait analysis insole and compare its ability to detect clinical correlations to a common stationary analysis tool. Twenty-five patients with chronic plantar fasciitis were included in this prospective, blinded, diagnostic study. Conventional, stationary gait analysis on a force plate on an even surface and continuous dynamic pedobarography on a standardized course consisting of different gait tasks were performed and correlated to the disease severity. Read More

Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Feb 9. Epub 2018 Feb 9.

Orthopedic surgery and traumatology service, Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León (SACYL), Spain. Electronic address:

The purpose is to compare the effectiveness and imaging changes (US and MRI) between PRP and corticoids injections for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis, using clinical results evaluated by the visual analogue scale (VAS), the AOFAS clinical rating system and the modified Roles and Maudsley score, and using imaging results (US and MRI). Our hypothesis is that PRP infiltrations are a more effective therapeutic method than infiltrations with corticosteroids. A single-centre, non randomized, prospective study of 40 consecutive patients (40 feet) with plantar fasciitis who had not responded to conservative treatment for at least 6 months was undertaken. Read More

Acta Chir Orthop Traumatol Cech 2018 ;85(1):57-61

Technická univerzita v Liberci.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY Currently, operative treatment is preferred in dislocated calcaneal fractures. Most frequently used is the extended lateral approach, the disadvantage of which is the risk of early complications. Therefore, less invasive operative techniques are sought that would reduce the risk of such complications. Read More

EFORT Open Rev 2018 Aug 29;3(8):485-493. Epub 2018 Aug 29.

Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Unit, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid, Spain; Faculty of Medicine, UEM Madrid, Spain.

Plantar fasciopathy is very prevalent, affecting one in ten people in their lifetime.Around 90% of cases will resolve within 12 months with conservative treatment.Gastrocnemius tightness has been associated with dorsiflexion stiffness of the ankle and plantar fascia injury. Read More

Am Fam Physician 2018 Sep;98(5):298-303

Virginia Commonwealth University Fairfax Family Practice, Fairfax, VA, USA.

Most foot disorders do not require podiatry referral or complex interventions. After the clinical diagnosis is made, these conditions can typically be managed with over-the-counter (OTC) and home remedies, with guidance from the primary care physician. Stretching and strengthening exercises, along with the use of heel cups, resolve most plantar fasciitis cases and are at least as effective as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or steroid injections. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Sep;97(37):e12110

Department of Rehabilitation, Shandong Sports Hospital, Jinan, China.

Background: Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, which often results in significant morbidity. There have been several treatment options that are used for plantar fasciitis, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, orthoses, physical therapy, and steroid injections.

Objectives: The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effects of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other treatments in patients with plantar fasciitis. Read More

Rheumatology (Oxford) 2019 Feb;58(2):237-245

Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Research Institute for Primary Care and Health Sciences, Keele University, Keele, UK.

Objectives: To examine associations between plantar calcaneal spurs, plantar fascia thickening and plantar heel pain (PHP), and to determine whether tenderness on palpation of the heel differentiates between these presentations.

Methods: Adults aged ⩾50 years registered with four general practices were mailed a Health Survey. Responders reporting foot pain within the last 12 months underwent a detailed clinical assessment. Read More

Scand J Med Sci Sports 2018 Dec 1;28(12):2643-2650. Epub 2018 Oct 1.

Research Unit for General Practice in Aalborg, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg East, Denmark.

Isometric exercise is commonly recommended for immediate pain relief in individuals suffering from lower limb tendinopathies, despite the limited evidence supporting its analgesic effect. Due to the similarities between plantar fasciopathy and tendinopathies, the aim of this trial was to investigate the acute effect of isometric exercise on pain, compared to isotonic exercise, or walking, in individuals with plantar fasciopathy. We recruited 20 individuals with plantar fasciopathy for this prospectively-registered, participant-blinded, randomized, superiority crossover trial (ClinicalTrials. Read More

Int J Rheum Dis 2019 Feb 5;22(2):222-227. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Hanyang University, Seoul, Korea.

Aim: Most heel pain occurs at the posterior or plantar aspect, where main entheses of the heel are located. However, simple radiographs as basic work-up tools, their features based on their association with local symptoms in the heel in ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients, have rarely been described.

Method: Forty patients with AS and unilateral heel pain were enrolled to evaluate radiographic differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic heels. Read More

J Foot Ankle Surg 2018 Sep - Oct;57(5):913-918

Professor, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

No consensus has been reached about the best treatment method of plantar fasciitis and the results of the treatment methods have been inconsistent. The objective of the present study was to compare the therapeutic effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy, platelet-rich plasma injection, local corticosteroid injection, and prolotherapy for the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis using a randomized, controlled, prospective study. We performed a randomized controlled prospective clinical study of 4 groups. Read More

Foot Ankle Int 2018 Dec 22;39(12):1423-1431. Epub 2018 Aug 22.

2 Section for Foot and Ankle Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.

Background:: Plantar heel pain is a common disorder that can lead to substantial pain and disability. Gastrocnemius recession has been described as an operative treatment option, but there is a lack of prospective clinical and biomechanical outcome data. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and biomechanical outcomes of gastrocnemius recession and stretching compared with a stretching exercise protocol for patients with plantar heel pain lasting more than 12 months. Read More

J Med Case Rep 2018 Aug 21;12(1):233. Epub 2018 Aug 21.

Department of Sports Medicine, Institute of Sports Sciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Ginnheimer Landstr. 39, D-60487, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

Background: The focus of this case report is on the role of inflammation as a contributor to pain in plantar fasciitis and its cure by the injection of local anesthetics.

Case Presentation: This is a case report on a 24-year-old white man, a middle-distance runner, with chronic unilateral plantar fasciitis and perceived heel pain for almost 1.5 years. Read More

J Pain 2019 Jan 16;20(1):60-67. Epub 2018 Aug 16.

Center for Sensory-Motor Interaction (SMI), Department of Health Science and Technology, School of Medicine, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark; Department of Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain.

Our aim was to investigate the differences in pressure sensitivity over musculoskeletal and nerve symptomatic and distant areas between individuals with plantar heel pain and healthy subjects and to determine the relationship between sensitivity to pressure pain, foot pain, and fascia thickness. Thirty-five patients with unilateral chronic plantar heel pain and 35 matched healthy controls participated. Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were assessed bilaterally over several nerve trunks (median, radial, ulnar, common peroneal, tibial, and sural nerve trunks) and musculoskeletal structures (calcaneus, medial gastrocnemius, tibialis anterior, and second metacarpal) by an assessor blinded to the subject's condition. Read More

Foot Ankle Int 2018 11 1;39(11):1312-1319. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

3 Murdoch Orthopaedic Clinic, St John of God Murdoch Hospital, Murdoch, Western Australia.

Background: Plantar fasciitis is a common condition prevalent in both athletic and nonathletic populations. Approximately 10% of patients do not respond to conservative treatment and suffer chronic recalcitrant plantar fasciitis. Outcomes following plantar fasciotomy vary but short-term studies have reported excellent early pain relief and return to activity, and significant improvements in symptoms. Read More

Clin Nucl Med 2018 Sep;43(9):e314-e315

From the Departments of Nuclear Medicine.

Heel pain is a common symptom in foot and ankle disorders. Typical heel pain can be assessed according to the patient's history and the location of pain. In some atypical inconclusive cases, bone SPECT/CT is the upcoming imaging modality for the detection of causes of heel pain. Read More

J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2018 Nov 11;48(11):847-855. Epub 2018 Jul 11.

Background: Plantar fasciitis is the chief cause of pain in the plantar surface of the heel. Therapeutic ultrasound is one of the most common conservative treatment modalities used by physical therapists worldwide, despite scarce evidence of its efficacy in treating plantar fasciitis.

Objective: To evaluate the additive effect of therapeutic ultrasound in the treatment of plantar fasciitis in terms of pain, function, and quality of life. Read More

Physiother Theory Pract 2018 Jul 6:1-25. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

d School of Physical Therapy , South College , Knoxville , TN , USA.

Introduction: Plantar heel pain (PHP) is a common condition managed by physical therapists that can, at times, be difficult to treat. Management of PHP is complicated by a variety of pathoanatomic features associated with PHP in addition to several treatment approaches with varying efficacy. Although clinical guidelines and clinical trial data support a general approach to management, the current literature is limited in case-specific descriptions of PHP management that addresses unique combinations of pathoanatomical, physical, and psychosocial factors that are associated with PHP. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2018 22;49:37-39. Epub 2018 Jun 22.

Security Forces Hospital, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Introduction: A calcaneal spur, also known as enthesophyte, is an abnormal bone outgrowth at the inferior part of the calcaneus, which is the most common site of bony spur occurrence. Although there is consensus that a calcaneal spur is a common cause of heel pain, approximately 20% of calcaneal spurs are asymptomatic and its pathology remains not fully understood.

Presentation Of Case: In this report, we present a rare case of a very large and bizarre calcaneal spur in a young adult man. Read More

Br J Sports Med 2019 Feb 28;53(3):182-194. Epub 2018 Jun 28.

Research Institute for Primary Care & Health Sciences, Arthritis Research UK Primary Care Centre, Keele, Staffordshire, UK.

Objective: To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of current treatment options for plantar heel pain (PHP).

Design: Systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA).

Data Sources: Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, AMED, PEDro, Cochrane Database, Web of Science and WHO Clinical Trials Platform were searched from their inception until January 2018. Read More

Zhongguo Gu Shang 2018 Jun;31(6):504-509

Taizhou Municipal Hospital, Taizhou 318000, Zhejiang, China;

Objective: To study the clinical effects of modified plantar fascia stretching manipulation combined with needle Dao loosing in the treatment of heel spur syndrome.

Methods: From September 2010 to September 2015, 115 patients diagnosed as heel spur syndrome were divided into two groups: treatment group and control group. There were 58 patients in the treatment group, including 21 males and 37 females, ranging in age from 26 to 73 years old, with the course of disease from 6 to 51 months. Read More

J Transl Med 2018 06 18;16(1):167. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

Department of Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstructive Surgery, Drum Tower Hospital Affiliated to Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Background: To explore the therapeutic effect and the biomechanical mechanism of 3D printing individualized heel cup in treating of plantar heel pain.

Methods: The clinical effect was evaluated by plantar pressure analysis and pain assessment in participants. Its biomechanical mechanism of protecting the plantar heel was explored using finite element simulation. Read More

Acta Orthop 2018 Dec 18;89(6):668-673. Epub 2018 Jun 18.

a Pediatric Orthopedic Department , Hospital Universitari Son Espases , Palma de Mallorca , Spain.

Background and purpose - Pes cavovarus (PCV) is a complex deformity, frequently related to neurological conditions and associated with foot pain, callosities, and walking instability. The deformity has the tendency to increase during growth. Orthotic treatment is ineffective and surgery may be troublesome. Read More

Gait Posture 2018 07 4;64:101-107. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

School of Mechanical, Materials, Mechatronic and Biomedical Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, 2500, Australia. Electronic address:

Background: Long-distance walking is a convenient way for prompting physical activity of elderly people. However, walking ability declines with aging.

Research Question: This study assessed if silicone insoles with heel lifts (named here the prescribed insoles) could facilitate long-distance walking of older adults. Read More

Pain Med 2018 May 30. Epub 2018 May 30.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Research Center, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.

Objective: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common causes of heel pain. The affected area is often close to the attachment of plantar fascia to calcaneus bone. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of ozone (O2-O3) injection to corticosteroid injection under ultrasound guidance for the treatment of chronic PF. Read More

Anesth Pain Med 2018 Feb 17;8(1):e64357. Epub 2018 Feb 17.

Department of Internal Medicine, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.

Background: Chronic plantar heel pain (CPHP) is one of the common, disabling, and painful problems in the foot. Obesity is one of the known causes of CPHP. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between the body mass and the treatment of chronic plantar heel pain. Read More