Background and purpose: Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of metatarsus pain. The purpose of this study was to compare improvements in pain and function in patients treated with Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) and dry needling.
Materials and methods: In a randomized controlled clinical trial, 72 patients with plantar fasciitis were randomly divided into two groups. The first group was treated with ESWT and the second group was treated by dry needling. Performance variables based on Foot Function Index (FFI) and pain based on Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were evaluated before treatment, and 4 weeks and 8 weeks after treatment using SPSS V16.
Results: There were 72 patients (mean age: 44.1±9.4) mainly females (n=54). Following 4 weeks and 8 weeks, both methods significantly reduced the pain index measured by VAS and FFI score compared with those before treatment. No significant difference was found between the two groups after 4 weeks of treatment in pain index measured by VAS and FFI score (P= 0.668 and P= 0.011, respectively). But, 8 weeks after the treatment, the rate of pain reduction, and FFI increased significantly in the group treated by dry needling (P= 0.011 and P=0.013).
Conclusion: Both ESWT and dry needling were found to be effective in treatment of plantar fasciitis, but dry needling showed to be more efficient in 8 weeks after treatment.
 
(Clinical Trials Registry Number: IRCT201610014104N6)