Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy effectively reduces calcaneal spur length and spur-related pain in overweight and obese patients

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effects of extra corporeal shock-wave therapy (ESWT) on the calcaneal spur length and pain severity in overweight and obese patients with symptomatic calcaneal spur. METHODS: In eighty patients with symptomatic calcaneal spur, ESWT was administered on days 0 and 7, and visual analog scale (VAS) scores and calcaneal spur lengths (CSLs) before and 3 months later after treatment were recorded. A lateral heel radiograph was used for computer-aided linear measurements of CSL. RESULTS: Of 80 patients, 59 (73.7%) were female and 21 were male (26.3%); age was 45.9 +/- 8.3 years; BMI was 31.6 +/- 4.4 kg/m(2); and symptom duration was 2.3 +/- 2.4 years. The CSL and VAS score after treatment were significantly lower than those before treatment (CSL before vs. after: 5.7 +/- 1.0 vs. 4.4 +/- 0.9, p = 0.001; VAS score before vs. after: 8.3 +/- 1.4 vs. 4.6 +/- 2.2; p = 0.03). The CSLs before and after treatment had a significant strong correlation (r = 0.832, p = 0.001). The VAS scores before and after treatment presented a significant mild correlation (r = 0.242, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In overweight and obese patients with symptomatic calcaneal spur, ESWT reduces the CSL and pain severity during a follow-up of three-month duration.