1. Introduction
calcification, ossifications, shock, swelling, calcifications, pain, orthosis, atrophy, rupture
DEGENERATION, INFILTRATION, SHOCK, PROLIFERATION, INFLAMMATION, DISEASE, PLANTAR FASCIITIS, ATROPHY, CALCAR CALCANEI
Academic Editor: Stefano BrunelliThe prospective, simple randomized study assesses the effect of focused extracorporeal shock wave therapy (f-ESWT) on pain intensity and calcification size compared to the application of ultrasound physical therapy in treating patients with calcar calcanei. A total of 124 patients diagnosed with calcar calcanei were consecutively included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups: the experimental group (Calcar calcanei is one of the most frequent causes of foot pain in adults (15–20%) [Calcar calcanei is a disease manifested by the presence of calcification on the calcaneus. Histological analysis shows that the calcar calcanei consists of a core of mature lamellar bone and demonstrates evidence of degeneration and fibro-cartilaginous proliferation, along with one or more intramembranous, chondroid, and endochondral ossifications occurring at the surface [Its treatment is multimodal and may include the following: the application of anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, surgical treatment, kinesiotherapy, and the use of an orthosis. Generally speaking, there is no proof of the efficiency of any particular method, apart from glucocorticoid infiltration, which is associated with possible atrophy of the tissue in the foot heel or rupture of the plantar fascia [Nowadays, in the literature, there is numerous evidence of the use of f-ESWT in the treatment of plantar fasciitis without or with (calcar calcanei) calcification. [The effect of the application of ultrasound therapy is twofold. The thermal effect manifests as a local increase in the temperature of the tissue located at the site of therapy application. The mechanical effect leads to micro-massage of the tissue being treated, resulting in increased permeability of cell membranes. This therapy has the effect of reducing swelling and tension in soft tissues, reducing pain and inflammation, and improving sensation.Research on the efficiency of safe physical therapy methods is an important current issue. Before introducing shock wave therapy into clinical practice, different forms of therapy were applied in treating calcifications. The application of different forms of therapy used thus far, including the local administration of corticosteroids, results in reduced swelling of the soft tissue of the heel and sole of the foot and reduced pain. Surgical removal of the calcification may lead to side effects in the soft tissue of the heel [Standard ultrasound therapy in calcar calcanei was the treatment of choice before introducing ESWT [The study aims to determine the effect of f-ESWT on pain intensity and the calcification size in calcar calcanei compared to the application of standard ultrasound therapy.