Comparitive study between stretching exercises and cortico steroid injection in treatment of patients with plantarfasciitis

Abstract

Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is the commonnest cause of heel pain. Its cause is uncertain so as there is a lot of treatment methods for it. Our study compares the outcome of two common treatment modaliy known as local infiltration of steroid injection and plantar fascia stretching exercises with each other regard to decrease pain intensity and improvement in function.

Materials and methods: 80 patients with complain of heel pain clinicaly diagnosed as plantar fasciitis are included in the study. Other causes of heel pain are ruled out in them. One group with local steroid injection while the other group was treated with plantar fascia stretching exercises. They are re evaluated regard to function and pain scores after 2 and 10 weeks,

Results: Two groups were similar regard to sex, age, height, weight and body mass index .Significant decrease in pain and improvement in function was reported in steroid group but, after the 10th week, two groups reported the same results in those manners.

Discussion: It seems that because after 10 weeks of treatment with both therapeutic methods, the results were comparable , it is better to use the less complicated and less invasive method (stretching), but in cases which prompt pain relief and better function is desired, local steroid injection may be better.