Effects of local vibration combined with extracorporeal shock wave therapy in plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.
HyoJeong On, JongEun Yim
PMID 37869937WHAT IT FOUND
Adding local vibration to shock wave therapy reduced plantar fascia thickness and pain more than shock wave alone.
However, foot function improved similarly in both groups, so the extra treatment did not help patients walk better in the short term.
Key findings
01The combined group had significantly greater reductions in plantar fascia thickness and pain scores compared to the shock wave alone group.
02There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of foot function improvement.
03Both groups showed significant improvements from baseline in thickness, pain, and function.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTs
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What it does not show
The study had no placebo or sham group, so the additional benefit of vibration could be partly due to a placebo effect or the extra attention received. Assessments and interventions were performed by the same physical therapist, which introduces potential bias. The follow-up period was short (one week post-intervention), so long-term effects on foot function are unknown. Blood circulation changes were hypothesized but not directly measured.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that better pain scores and reduced tissue thickness will automatically translate to improved foot function or daily activity ability, as the study found no functional difference between the groups.