COMPARISON OF SHORT-TERM ANALGESIC EFFECTS OF EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE THERAPY (ESWT) AND CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT (CT) IN MEN WITH CHRONIC HEEL SPUR (HS).

Background. The surgical removal of heel spur (HS) provokes many controversial opinions, but clinical studies show the risk of complication after operation. An alternative to the surgical removal of HS is Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT), because it is non-invasive method. Objective. The aim of the study is to compare the short-term analgesic effects of ESWT and conservative treatment (CT) in males with chronic HS. Methods. Sixty patients (mean age 54.9±4.3 years; range 42 to 59 years) were examined who had pain associated with HS. In the shockwave group (group 1) patients received 1000–2000 impulses of shocks to the affected heel in a single session. The patients in this group took a series of 5 ESWT in 1 week intervals. Patients in the control group (group 2) at the same time received CT consisting of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), orthotics and a local cortisone injection. The basic method of research was to evaluate pain according to Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) 0–10. The patients of the two groups were tested before the treatment, after the last treatment and 3 months and 6 months after the treatment. Results. A significant decrease of VAS (p=0.000) was seen in the shockwave group. In the control group no significant decrease of VAS was seen. Conclusions. ESWT reduces pain more effectively than CT in men with chronic HS. KEY WORDS: extracorporeal shock wave therapy, conservative treatment, visual analogue scale, heel spur, pain