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Effect of different orthotic concepts as first line treatment of plantar fasciitis
Markus Walther, Bernd Kratschmer, Joachim Verschl, Christoph Volkering, Sebastian Altenberger, Stefanie Kriegelstein, Marc Hilgers.
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Volume 19, Issue 2, June 2013, Pages 103–107

Abstract
Background
Evaluation of the effectiveness of three different types of prefabricated foot orthotics in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Methods
Prospective, randomized head-to-head trial in 30 adults (21 women, 9 men) with plantar fasciitis without any anatomic alterations. Three different prefabricated orthotics were tested (thin, non supportive orthotic (NO); soft supportive foam orthotic (FO); foam covered rigid self-supporting plastic orthotic (PO)). The follow up was 3 weeks. Main outcome measures were maximum and average pain (VAS), duration of pain per day, walking distance and subjective comfort.

Results
There was no significant effect of NO on maximal pain and average pain. FO and PO had a significant effect on pain levels (p < 0.05) whereas PO was superior concerning pain reduction and the time until the onset of effect (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
PO are superior regarding pain reduction and pain free time when compared to FO. NO did not demonstrate a significant effect in the test setup used.

 

dammit!! Sorry, missed that one!

 

Maybe we should send Nick Campitelli this study so he can see if he can conveniently forget to include it in one of his next blogs on how orthotics don't work?;)

 

remember that wonderful quote from Robert?? I think.. about never playing chess with a chicken KK? that is what we are up against here.
I had dinner with a very old friend last night who now lives in Raleigh NC and works at the University. He is a very distinguished scientist, and from his department alone there have been 5 Nobel prize winners in the last 10 years. Since he is doing important work with malaria, I would not be at all surprised if he was number 6 on a totally different intellectual level to anyone I have know.. and I have known him since we were 17.
We got to talking about all sorts of things, and eventually barefoot and the like.. he made a very interesting observation, and it was that in his opinion, there was a problem with the concept of belief, because it flies in the face of science. A quite confronting concept.. should we believe in nothing?
No he replied.. it is ok to have an opinion in a belief, as long as you are completely prepared to change that opinion in the face of the best available current information.
And that.. is what science is all about.. no point in arguing with a chicken like Nick my friend...