The Role of Foot Alignment in the Effectiveness of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis.

Abstract

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain, and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is widely used in patients who fail conservative treatment. The role of radiographic foot alignment parameters in predicting ESWT response remains unclear. To evaluate the association between radiographically assessed foot alignment parameters and clinical response to ESWT in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis. Retrospective comparative study; Level III evidence. Plantar fasciitis patients were compared with age-matched healthy individuals. The plantar fasciitis group was divided into those who benefited from ESWT (n = 84) and those who did not (n = 85), and the effects of demographic variables and radiological measurements on treatment success were examined. Significant differences in calcaneal inclination, lateral talus-first metatarsal, talonavicular coverage, anteroposterior talocalcaneal, and anteroposterior talus-first metatarsal angles were observed between plantar fasciitis patients and healthy individuals. No significant differences in radiological parameters were observed between ESWT responders and non-responders (p > 0.05), while body mass index differed between the groups in univariate analysis (p < 0.05). Findings suggest that radiological parameters may contribute to development of plantar fasciitis but do not predict ESWT success. Level III, retrospective comparative study.