The safety and efficacy of high energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy in active, moderately active, and sedentary patients with chronic plantar fasciitis.

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was investigated in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Fifty-three patients (60 heels) were treated with a single ses sion of shock wave therapy. Sixteen patients (19 heels) were active, 21 (22 heels) were moderately active, and 16 (19 heels) were sedentary. Twelve weeks post-treatment, mean visual analog scores improved from 9.2 to 2.4 (P < .05), RAND-Physical Functioning score improved from 40.4 to 91.5 (P < .05), and RAND-Pain score improved from 33.3 to 90 (P < .05). Fifty heels (83.3%) were assigned an excellent or good result. Extracorporeal shock wave therapy is an effective treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis.