HOW EFFECTIVE IS THERAPEUTIC ULTRASOUND IN THE TREATMENT OF HEEL PAIN

Objectives-To evaluate the therapeutic effect from ultrasound in the t reatment of plantar heel pain by physiotherapists and podiatrists, and to quantify the placebo effect of this electrophysical agent. Methods -Patients experiencing episodes of plantar heel pain were allocated ra ndomly, at each episode, to receive either true ultrasound (machine ca librated to deliver a dose of ultrasound at 0.5 w/cm(2), 3 MHz, pulsed 1:4), for eight minutes, or sham ultrasound (only the timer on the ma chine activated). Each episode was treated, according to randomisation , eight times. An independent observer set the equipment before obscur ing the control panel with a drape. All treatments were undertaken by the same operator. Patients' pain scores were measured on a 10 cm line ar analogue scale before the course of eight treatments commenced and at the end of the course, and analysed using a Wilcoxon Signed-Ranks t est. Results-Nineteen patients experienced episodes of heel pain (seve n bilateral). Both groups showed a reduction in pain; the improvement was 30% in the treated group and 25% in the placebo group (P = 0.5). C onclusions-Therapeutic ultrasound at a dosage of 0.5 w/cm(2), 3 MHz, p ulsed 1:4, for eight minutes is no more effective than placebo in the treatment of plantar heel pain.