Establishment and Evaluation of Standardized Clinical, Biological and Imaging Parameters to Assess the Response of LDRT in Heel Spur With Plantar Fasciitis

Establishment and Evaluation of Standardized Clinical, Biological and Imaging Parameters to Assess the Response of LDRT in Heel Spur With Plantar Fasciitis

The clinical picture of calcaneal spur with plantar fasciitis is a debilitating disease that is difficult to treat with conservative and interventional measures. Radiotherapy has shown very good therapeutic results in retrospective data, which need to be clinically confirmed both subjectively and in terms of image morphology in a prospective approach.

Primary objective of the study:

To demonstrate a clinical benefit of LDRT: improvement of pain, functionality and quality of life after LDRT

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age > 39 years
• Typical clinical picture of plantar fasciitis for at least 3 months without associated trauma, other musculoskeletal co-morbidities or degenerative joint disease
• Patients with first-time application of LDRT to the affected joint
• Willingness to cooperate and accessibility of patients, especially geographical proximity, for treatment and follow-up
• Patients for whom LDRT is indicated independently of the study
• Karnofsky Index >70%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Achillodynia ("dorsal" calcaneal spur)
• Previous trauma to the foot (fracture, tendon rupture)
• Musculoskeletal comorbidities of the foot
• Acute infections/open wounds in the area of the tendon to be examined or other relevant damage to the tendon to be examined
• Local steroid injections into the tendon prior to the study
• Rheumatic or vascular diseases, lymphedema
• Patients with tumors
• Individuals of childbearing potential who do not use adequate contraceptive measures consistently during therapy
• Persistent drug, medication or alcohol abuse
• Patients who have already undergone radiotherapy for the treatment of cancer
• Patients with an increased risk of an MRI examination, including the presence of metal implants, pacemakers or claustrophobia