ArticleTurkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation2021
Comparison of effects of low-level laser therapy and extracorporeal shock wave therapy in calcaneal spur treatment: A prospective, randomized, clinical study.
Article in Turkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.
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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.
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Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 12 citations in OpenAlex.
- Comparison of extracorporeal shock wave therapy and high-intensity laser therapy in the treatment of calcaneal spur-related symptoms: clinical outcomes and functional improvement.Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research · 2025Trial
- A Narrative Review of Shockwave Therapy in Plantar Fasciitis.Journal of functional morphology and kinesiology · 2026Review
- Effect of Local Laser Therapy on Plantar Fasciitis: A Meta-Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Incidence of Facial Nerve Palsy in Pregnancy.Cureus · 2022Review
- Review
- Low-level laser therapy versus extracorporeal shock wave therapy in calcaneal spur.Turkish journal of physical medicine and rehabilitation · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
2 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesIn this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in the treatment of calcaneal spurs. PATIENTS AND
methodsA total of 62 patients (14 males, 48 females; mean age: 47.6±11.7 years; range, 18 to 70 years) who were diagnosed with calcaneal spurs based on clinical examination and plain radiography between April 2019 and September 2019 were included in this study. A total of 15 sessions of plantar fascia gastroc-soleus stretching exercises and cold pack treatments were given to both groups. The LLLT (904 nm wavelength, 3,000 Hz, 8 J/cm2 dose to the painful heel area and insertion of the plantar fascia on the medial calcaneal area, five points for a total of 5 min for three weeks) was applied to the first group (n=31), whereas ESWT (10 Hz, 2,000 shock waves with a 2.5 bar pressure into the areas of the painful heel, insertion of the plantar fascia on the medial calcaneal area) was applied the second group (n=31). All patients were evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and Foot Function Index (FFI) before and after treatment.
resultsIn both groups, the median VAS and FFI scores after treatment showed a significant improvement, compared to pre-treatment scores (p=0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the median post-treatment VAS scores (p>0.05). In the ESWT group, the median FFI pain and total scores after treatment were significantly lower than in the LLLT group (p=0.033). The change in the median FFI pain and total scores were significantly higher in the ESWT group (p=0.046).
conclusionBoth treatment modalities are effective and not superior to each other in terms of disability and activity limitation reduction, although a greater improvement in the FFI pain and total scores can be achieved with the ESWT. Based on these findings, we recommend both non-invasive treatment methods to be used in the treatment of calcaneal spurs in the clinical practice.
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