Study of Low Level Laser Therapy to Treat Chronic Heel Pain Arising From Plantar Fasciitis

Chronic heel pain is one of the most common forms of foot pain in adults. The heel bone (calcaneus) receives a lot of stress as it is the largest bone in the foot, and the heel is the first part of the foot to contact the ground during walking. Normally, as the foot absorbs the weight of the body during walking, the arch area joint locking mechanism provides about 80% of the stability of the foot. The other 20% of biomechanical stability is provided by the plantar fascia and muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Gait abnormalities can cause inflammation of the structures attached to the heel bone, resulting in heel pain.

Plantar fasciitis refers to syndromes of pain that occurs at the site of the attachment of the plantar fascia and the calcaneus, with or without accompanying pain along the medial band of the plantar fascia. Eighty per cent (80%) of heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, with 10% of the U.S. population likely to be afflicted over a lifetime. Two million Americans are treated for plantar fasciitis each year. It is more common in women than men and in people aged 40-60 years.

Plantar fasciitis results from small tears and inflammation in the wide band of tendons and ligaments that stretch from the heel to the ball of the foot. This band forms the arch of the foot and serves as a shock absorber for the body. Causes of plantar fasciitis include poor footwear, sedentary lifestyles, obesity and sports injuries. Plantar fasciitis is characterized by pain at the bottom of the heel on weight bearing, particularly when first arising in the morning, and after prolonged periods of rest.

Progressive conservative treatment options for plantar fasciitis include rest, stretching, strengthening, massage, physical therapy, orthotics and shoe inserts, heel cups, night splints, plantar strapping, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), steroid and corticosteroid injections and iontophoresis. When conservative treatments are unsuccessful, surgical release or removal of the plantar fascia may occur.

However, most conservative approaches are of limited effectiveness and there are potential significant complications from plantar fascia surgery.

Low level laser therapy (LLLT) offers a quick, painless, non-invasive, side-effect free alternative to relieve the debilitating pain of plantar fasciitis. When applied to injuries and lesions, low level laser light has been shown to stimulate healing and reduce pain by accelerating the speed, quality and strength of tissue repair and the reduction of inflammation. Laser therapy has been found to be particularly effective over other standard therapies in relieving pain and other symptoms associated with chronic problems and injuries as it impacts the complete system of targeted muscles, tendons, ligaments, connective tissue, bone, nerve, and dermal tissues. Additionally, Erchonia low level lasers have been shown through controlled clinical trials to be effective for pain reduction, as evidenced through several FDA 510(k) approvals for various indications.

Inclusion criteria

• Unilateral mechanical plantar heel pain
• Chronic heel pain defined as at least 3 months of ongoing heel pain with no evidence of acute trauma to the heel
• Degree of heel pain rating on the 0-100 Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is at least 50 for heel pain experienced upon taking the first few steps of the day.
• Heel pain has been previously unresponsive to prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken over a minimum period of 2 weeks; and any two or more of the following conservative treatments: rest, taping, stretching, orthotics, shoe modifications, night splinting, casting, physical therapy, or local corticosteroid injections
• Subject is willing and able to refrain from consuming non-study approved medications or partaking in other therapies for relief of heel pain throughout study participation

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to definitively rule out any one or more of the following potential etiologies of chronic heel pain: mechanical posterior; neurologic; arthritic; and traumatic heel pain
• Bilateral heel pain
• Evidence of acute trauma to the heel
• Loss of plantar foot sensation
• Foot deformity
• Previous surgery to the heel
• Foot trauma within the previous three months
• Skin ulceration (infection or wound) on the heel and surrounding area
• Sciatica
• Benign and malignant tumors
• Acute infection of soft tissue or bone such as osteomyelitis
• Diabetic neuropathic pain
• Type I Diabetes
• Sensory neuropathy
• Previous diagnosis of neuropathy affecting lower extremities
• Peripheral vascular disease or autoimmune disease
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Chronic pain disorders
• Metabolic disorders: Osteomalacia, Paget's disease, Sickle cell disease.
• Blood coagulation disorders
• Significant heart conditions including coronary heart failure (CHF) and implantable heart devices
• Non-ambulatory status
• Unable or unwilling to consume the study rescue medication of Tylenol
• Photosensitivity disorder
• Pregnant or lactating
• Serious mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years.
• Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that would preclude adequate comprehension of the consent form or the ability to record the study measures
• Involvement in litigation or a worker's compensation claim or receiving disability benefits related to the heel pain
• Participation in other research in the past 30 days