Jornal Internacional de Medicina Física e Reabilitação
Acesso livre
ISSN: 2329-9096
ISSN: 2329-9096
Alessandro Bistolfi, Jessica Zanovello, Andrea Vannicola, Lorenzo Morino, Walter Daghino, Alessandro Masse and Giuseppe Massazza
This review focuses on the various techniques of conservative treatment of plantar fasciitis and posterior heel pain. Being the optimal therapy controversial, the intent is to drive surgeons and rehabilitation specialists in the choice of the strategies. The Data sources were MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Psych INFO databases using the selected key words. Studies have been selected for review using as criteria English, adults, clinical population and intervention. Among several published studies about rehabilitation and fasciitis, only a few showed bases on scientific evidence. Moreover, many studies were heterogeneous and included different outcomes and evaluations. There is consensus that a specific rehabilitation program is necessary to avoid chronicity. However, the real efficacy of every specific treatment (orthoses, stretching, radiotherapy, botulin toxin, shock waves, corticosteroid therapy, and platelet rich plasma) is still questionable, and often related to the experience of the authors. In conclusion, patients undergoing physiotherapy obtain a better and faster outcome achievement than non-treated patients; however, evidence-based treatments, protocols and clinical trials are recommended.