Comparative Effects of TherapeuticU and Shockwave Therapy on Pain and QOL in Patients With Chronic Heel Spur Pain

Comparative Effects of Therapeutics Ultrasound and Shockwave Therapy on Pain and Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Heel Spur Pain. A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

This research aims to compare the effectiveness of therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) and extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in managing chronic heel spur pain and improving patients' quality of life. Chronic heel spur pain, often associated with plantar fasciitis, is a debilitating condition that affects mobility and daily activities.

The study will be conducted at Sehat Medical Complex, Lahore, over 10 months, enrolling 60 participants diagnosed with chronic heel spur pain. They will be randomly assigned into two groups: one receiving therapeutic ultrasound (10 sessions over two weeks with a frequency of 1 MHz and intensity between 0.8-2.0 W/cm²) and the other undergoing shockwave therapy (five weekly sessions with 2500 shocks per session at increasing pressure levels from 2.5 to 3.5 bars). The effectiveness of these interventions will be evaluated using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Foot Function Index (FFI) for functional assessment, and for quality of life. Follow-up assessments will be conducted at baseline, after the intervention (week 4), and at week 8 to evaluate both short-term and sustained treatment effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients diagnosed with chronic heel spur pain, confirmed through imaging studies (e.g., X-ray, ultrasound).
• Age range: 30-60 years. Both male and female included
• Chronic heel pain persisting for more than 1 month.
• Individuals with no prior surgical intervention for heel pain.
• Ability to provide informed consent and comply with the treatment protocol.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of systemic inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
• History of previous steroid injection less than 6 weeks.
• prior NSAID treatment less than 1 week,
• Individuals with contraindications to ultrasound or shockwave therapy, such as pacemakers or implanted devices.