Comparison of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy and Whole Body Vibration Therapy in Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasiit Tedavisinde ESWT ve Tüm Vücut Vibrasyon Uygulamalarının Etkinliğinin Karşılaştırılması: Randomize, Prospektif, Tek Kör Çalışma

Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain that can lead to functional limitation and decreased quality of life. Various conservative treatment modalities are used in its management. This study aims to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and whole body vibration therapy in patients with plantar fasciitis. The study is designed as a randomized, prospective, single-blind clinical trial. Clinical outcomes will be evaluated using pain and functional assessment scales before and after treatment.

Study Overview

• Status: Active, not recruiting
• Conditions: Plantar Fasciitis; Calcaneal Spur
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy; Device: Whole Body Vibration Therapy

Detailed Description

This randomized, prospective, single-blind clinical trial was conducted to compare the effects of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and whole body vibration therapy in patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. A total of 60 patients aged between 18 and 65 years were included in the final analysis. Participants were randomly assigned into two groups.

The first group received extracorporeal shock wave therapy applied once weekly for a total of five sessions. The second group received whole body vibration therapy three times per week for five weeks. Both groups followed the same standardized home exercise program during the treatment period.

Clinical evaluations were performed at baseline, at the end of treatment, and at the ninth week. The primary outcome measure was functional status assessed using the Foot Function Index (FFI). Secondary outcome measures included pain intensity assessed by the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) score, and the Roles and Maudsley score.The aim of this study is to determine and compare the clinical effectiveness of ESWT and whole body vibration therapy in the management of plantar fasciitis.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34245
    • Gaziosmanpaşa Training and Research Hospital

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 18 and 65 years
• Clinically diagnosed plantar fasciitis
• Heel pain lasting at least 4 weeks
• Ability to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of inflammatory rheumatic diseases
• Previous foot or ankle surgery
• Major trauma to the foot or ankle
• Neurological or vascular disorders of the lower extremities
• Pregnancy or lactation
• Corticosteroid injection to the foot within the last 3 months
• Physical therapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, or whole body vibration therapy within the last 3 months

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT); Participants received extracorporeal shock wave therapy once weekly for five sessions.	Device: Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy; Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was applied once weekly for a total of five sessions to the affected heel.
Experimental: Whole Body Vibration Therapy; Participants received whole body vibration therapy three times per week for five weeks.	Device: Whole Body Vibration Therapy; Whole body vibration therapy was applied three times per week for five weeks using a vibration platform.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Foot Function Index (FFI)	Foot Function Index (FFI), a self-reported questionnaire consisting of 23 items in three subscales (pain, disability, and activity limitation), with scores ranging from 0 to 100. Higher scores indicate worse foot-related disability.	Baseline, 5 weeks and 9 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	Pain severity assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS).Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst imaginable pain. Higher scores indicate worse pain.	Baseline, 5 weeks and 9 weeks
American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society Score (AOFAS)	American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Ankle-Hindfoot Score, ranging from 0 to 100, where higher scores indicate better function.	Baseline, 5 weeks and 9 weeks
Roles and Maudsley Score	Clinical outcome assessed using the Roles and Maudsley score.Roles and Maudsley Score (RM score), a 4-point ordinal scale ranging from 1 (excellent) to 4 (poor). Lower scores indicate better clinical outcome.	Baseline, 5 weeks and 9 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gaziosmanpasa Research and Education Hospital
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Berrin Hüner, Gaziosmanpaşa Training and Research Hospital

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Gerdesmeyer L, Frey C, Vester J, et al. Radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy is safe and effective in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine. 2008;40(6):425-430. doi:10.2340/jrm.v55.12405.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): August 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): March 20, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: January 30, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): March 11, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 5, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Randomized Controlled Trial; Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy; Plantar Fasciitis; ESWT; Whole Body Vibration Therapy; Foot Function Index
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Bone Diseases; Musculoskeletal Diseases; Foot Diseases; Exostoses; Hyperostosis; Fasciitis; Fasciitis, Plantar; Heel Spur; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Rehabilitation; Ultrasonic Therapy; Diathermy; Hyperthermia, Induced; Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy
• Other Study ID Numbers: IMU-EC-945-2025

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared because the study is a single-center academic thesis study, and the data contain personal and sensitive health information. There is no separate data-sharing agreement or repository planned for this study.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No