Caring Medical
& Rehabilitation Services
715 Lake Street, Suite 600
Oak Park, Illinois 60301
708.848.7789 Phone
708.848.7763 Fax

Prolotherapy for Chronic Plantar Fasciitis

Prolotherapists have known for years that the best treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis is Prolotherapy. Prolotherapy to the plantar fascia attachments and the ligaments underneath this structure, such as the spring ligament, can help strength the arches of the foot. When the arches and supporting structures are strong, the pain goes away.

Recently it was shown that extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis had no benefit. (Buchbinder, R, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Plantar Fasciitis:A Randomized Controlled Trial. JAMA 2002; 228:1364-1372).

Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis and bone spurs is an extremely expensive procedure costing thousands of dollars per patient. This study published in the Journal of American Medical Association should put to rest the notion that shock wave therapy is useful for soft tissue injuries.

Chronic soft tissue pain such as in the plantar fascia is caused because some structure is too weak. Giving that structure ultrasound or some ‘wave therapy’ is good to soften the structure so it can be stretched but can not do anything to make it stronger. Prolotherapy to weakened soft tissue structures cause them to be strengthened. For the person with pain, this means not only getting rid of the pain but the structure ends of stronger and function is improved. To the runner it means running faster. To the hurdler it means jumping higher. To the woman who wears high heels it means get decked out for a great night out because the pain is no longer there. Yes Prolotherapy in my experience is the best treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis.