A comparative analysis of functional outcome in patients with plantar fasciitis treated by corticosteroid injection vs plantar fascia stretching exercises

Author(s): Sriram Thanigai T, S Deviprasad, R Rajkumar

Abstract: Introduction: Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of foot pain. There is no current standard of care and the existing management protocols are mainly from expert opinion-derived practice guidelines. The step-ladder approach is the most widely accepted approach. Both corticosteroid injections and Stretching exercises are widely used by orthopedicians worldwide. Hence, the present study.rnMethodology: This study was done as a prospective study. There were 80 patients who presented to us from May 2014 to March 2015 were enrolled in the study.40 patients were enrolled in the Corticosteroid group and 40 patients were enrolled in the Plantar fascia stretching exercises group. Patients were assessed at 2nd and 8th week.rnResults: Both the pain and Functional outcome improved significantly in the 2nd week in the steroid injection group. But at the end of eighth week the improvement was almost comparable in both the groups.rnConclusion: Though immediate improvement in pain and functional outcome is noted in the injection group as early as 2nd week, Long term outcome in both groups is similar.rn