ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the long-term effectiveness of using extracorporeal shock waves in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. Methods Extracorporeal shock wave therapy was applied to 23 plantar fasciitis suffer-ers once a week for three weeks. MRI examinations were performed before and 4 hours after the first treatment. Before the treatment and one month after it was complete, all of the patients rated their pain using a visual analogue scale ( VAS) , and their infirmity was quantified using a heel tenderness index ( HTI) and the ankle-hind foot scale of the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society ( AOFAS) . The longest walking time was also recorded. Paired t-tests compared the T2 values of the fascia, muscles and fat pads, the longest walking time and the VAS scores before and after the treatment. Pearson correlation coefficients were evaluated to test the significance of any correlation between the T2 changes and the changes in the VAS scores. Results After the shock wave therapy, the average VAS, HIT and AOFAS scores had significantly decreased, while the longest walking time had increased significantly. The mag-netic resonance imaging showed increased edema in the fascia and their surrounding soft tissues. And the extent and degree of the T2 weighted high signal increased four hours after the treatment. The changes in the T2 values correlated positively and significantly with the changes in the VAS scores. Conclusion Extracorporeal shock waves have an excellent therapeutic effect on plantar fasciitis. They can significantly relieve heel pain and improve foot movement.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the neuro-protective effects of magnetotherapy after traumatic brain injury of rats. Methods Traumatic brain injury models were created in 20 rats and divided randomly into magnetotherapy and non-magnetotherapy groups. The rats in magnetotherapy group received magnetotherapy on the cranial surface of traumatized region twice daily, each for 20 min, over 10 d. The intensity of magnetic field was O. 15 T at the surface,and 0.1 T during spinning at 3000 rpm. The contraction strength of gastrocnemius of each rat's left hind limb was measured on the 11 th d after trauma. The rats were then sacrificed and brain tissue samples were taken. The infiltra-tions of CD4 + and CD8 + cells and apnptosis in the area around the injury lesion were observed with immunohisto-chemical methods. The relationship among the indexes was analyzed. Results At the 11th d after brain injury, the quantities of CD4 + and CD8 + cells and apoptotic cells in magnetotherapy group were all obviously less than those in non-magnetotherapy group. Average contraction strength of gastrocnemius in magnetotherapy group was significantly stronger than that in non-magnetotherapy group. Conclusions Magnetotherapy can relieve the secondary effects of brain injury and induce neuro-protection effects. This may involve decreasing the local infiltrations of CD4 + and CD8 + and apoptotic cells in the area around the injury lesion.