ReviewIndian journal of orthopaedics2026
Comparative Effectiveness of Iontophoresis vs. Low Dye Taping in Plantar Fasciitis: A Systematic Review.
Review in Indian journal of orthopaedics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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.
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.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Background: Plantar fasciitis (PF) is a frequent cause of heel pain, affecting approximately 10% of the population. Conservative treatments such as iontophoresis and low-dye taping (LDT) are widely used to alleviate symptoms, often providing short-term pain relief. Objective: This systematic review aims to compare the efficacy of iontophoresis (with 5% acetic acid, 0.4% dexamethasone, dexamethasone and lidocaine, or placebo) versus low-dye taping (LDT) in treating plantar fasciitis. Additionally, it evaluates the combined effect of iontophoresis and LDT application. Methods: A systematic search was conducted in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library databases, following PRISMA guidelines and the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were predefined. Two independent reviewers screened and extracted data from eligible studies, assessing their quality. Included studies comprised randomized controlled trials, non-randomized clinical trials, case-control studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (registration number: [blind for review]). Results: Eight studies published between 1997 and 2018 were included, providing a moderate level of evidence. Both iontophoresis (with the specified agents) and low-dye taping, alone or combined, were associated with statistically significant reductions in pain scores compared to baseline. Conclusion: Iontophoresis and low-dye taping are effective conservative interventions for plantar fasciitis, with their combined use also showing beneficial effects. These treatments can be considered viable options to reduce pain in patients with plantar fasciitis.
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Registered trials
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