Comparison of the analgesic effect of ultrasound and low-level laser therapy in patients suffering from plantar fasciitis (calcar calcanei)

To compare the effectiveness of the two therapeutic approaches, ultrasound and low level laser (LLLT) used in 181 patients suffering from calcar calcanei-plantar fasciitis. The effectiveness of the treatment was determined according to the evaluation of the patient using certain criteria described in the table. The complete disappearance of pain was seen in 50% of 60 patients treated with US and partial improvement in 16.6% and 69 patients were treated with LLLT from which 67% described complete pain relief, and 20% partial improvement. The results show that the LLLT is a good therapeutic approach in the treatment of pain in patients suffering from calcar calcanei-plantar fasciitis. The treatment with laser was significantly more successful then the ultrasound therapy, which is currently the most common therapy used for plantar fasciitis.

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