NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jul 14 - Iontophoresis with acetic acid is more effective than iontophoresis with dexamethasone in relieving pain and stiffness due to plantar fasciitis, investigators report. However, the effects of treatment are only short-term.
There have been reports that iontophoresis with dexamethasone or acetic acid benefits patients with plantar fasciitis, Drs. H. R. Osborne and G. T. Allison explain in their study, published in the June issue of British Journal of Sports Medicine. However, there have been no comparisons of the two agents, and no reports on the efficacy of LowDye taping, for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.
They therefore conducted a double-blinded, randomized trial among 31 patients with medial calcaneal origin plantar fasciitis that was symptomatic for at least 1 month.
The treatments consisted of iontophoresis with 0.4% dexamethasone (n = 11), 5% acetic acid (n = 10), or saline placebo (n = 10). Six treatments of iontophoresis with each agent were performed over a 2-week period. LowDye taping was replaced at each visit and then discontinued at the end of the 2 weeks.
Patients reported measures of pain and stiffness at baseline, 2 weeks and 4 weeks, using a 10-cm visual analog scale.
At the end of 2 weeks, all groups reported significant improvement in morning pain and average pain in the past week, but acetic acid was the most effective. However, by the 4-week follow-up visit, effects on pain were not maintained in any group. A similar pattern was observed with residual pain and worst pain in the past 2 days.
However, the treatment gains in pain from acetic acid or placebo were lost by the end of 4 weeks.
In terms of morning stiffness, all three treatments reduced morning stiffness, but the difference was statistically significant only in the acetic acid and placebo groups. The reduction in stiffness was maintained only among patients treated with acetic acid.
Five patients developed skin irritation due to the LowDye taping, so the physicians, based at the University of Western Australian in Perth, recommend taping not be used for more than 2 weeks
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