Comparison between effect of low-power laser therapy versus local methylprednisolone injection on plantar fascitis in patients refer to rheumatology clinic

Background: Plantar fasciitis accounts for 11 to 15 percent of foot pain in adults. Although
an injection of corticosteroids is a common treatment in plantar fasciitis, it has side effects
and short-term pain relief. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effect of low-power
laser therapy (LPLT) with methylprednisolone injection in unilateral plantar fasciitis
patients.
Materials and Methods: In this clinical trial study, 40 patients with unilateral plantar
fasciitis were randomly allocated into two groups (n=20). In the first group, 40 mg of
prednisolone was locally injected and the second group received LPLT in 10 sessions.
Levels of pain and morning stiffness were evaluated.
Results: Forty-two percent of cases were male and 57.5% female. Fifty-five percent of the
patients had right and 45% had left foot fasciitis. The mean age of the patients was 52.98
years and the disease duration was 32.38 weeks. In men pain was seen more in the right foot
and in women in left foot. Duration of pain in women with plantar fasciitis was more than
the men. The effect of the two therapies on morning stiffness and pain reduction was the
same in both groups. Moreover, pain reduction measured by visual analogue scale had a
similar effect during the study in both groups.
Conclusion: LPLT like corticosteroid injection has significant effect on the intensity and
duration of pain and morning stiffness in plantar fasciitis and can be used as an alternative to
corticosteroid injection.
Keywords: Plantar fasciitis, Low-power laser, Local corticosteroid injection