Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29273892›Full record

Trial reportLasers in medical science2018

Low-level laser therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Eda Cinar, Shikha Saxena, Fatma Uygur

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Lasers in medical science, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
3.1field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 58 citations in OpenAlex.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Eda CinarSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada. edaccinar@gmail.com.
Shikha SaxenaSchool of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University, 3654 Prom Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, QC, H3G 1Y5, Canada.
Fatma UygurDepartment of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Cyprus International University, via Mersin 10, 99258, Lefkoşa, Turkey.
McGill University · CACyprus International University · CY

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

This study aimed at estimating the extent to which a combination therapy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) with exercise and orthotic support (usual care) affects functional ability in the patient with plantar fasciitis (PF) when compared to usual care alone. Participants with PF were randomly allocated into two groups: LLLT (n = 27) and control (n = 22). All the participants received home exercise program with orthotic support. In addition, the LLLT group received a gallium-aluminum-arsenide laser with a 850-nm wavelength for ten sessions, three times a week. Functional outcomes were measured by function subscale of American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS-F) and 12-min walking test including walking speed, cadence, and activity-related pain using visual analog scale (VAS).The scores were recorded at baseline, third week, and third month after the treatment. Analysis was performed using repeated measures ANOVA and an intention to treat approach using multiple imputations. There was a significant improvement in AOFAS-F total score at 3 weeks in both groups (LLLT, p < 0.001; control, p = 0.002), but the improvements were seen only for the LLLT group for AOFAS-F total score (p = 0.04) and two individual items of AOFAS-F (walking distance (p < 0.001) and walking surface (p = 0.01)) at 3 months. The groups were comparable with each other for both walking speed and cadence at all assessment times (p > 0.05). Both groups showed significant reduction in pain over 3 months (LLLT, p < 0.001; control, p = 0.01); however, the LLLT group had lower pain than the control group at 3 months (p = 0.03). The combination therapy of LLLT with usual care is more effective to improve functional outcomes and activity-related pain when compared to usual care alone.

Indexed as

Low-Level Light TherapyAdultDemographyFasciitis, PlantarFemaleGaitHumansLasers, SemiconductorMaleMiddle AgedPain MeasurementVisual Analog ScaleExerciseLow-level laser therapyOrthotic supportPainPlantar fasciitis

Identifiers

PMID29273892
OpenAlexW2781280375

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.