ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence suggests that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) for plantar fasciitis (PF) may be beneficial. However, the convincing study investigating its effectiveness for treatment of PF was scarce. Therefore, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to assess whether LLLT significantly relieve pain of patients with PF. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Web of Science, China Biological Medicine Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Chinese Wan fang, and Cochrane CENTRAL were searched systematically up to March 2018. RESULTS: A total of 6 randomized controlled trials were included. The meta-analysis indicated that compared with control group, visual analogue scale (VAS) score significantly decreased at the end point of the treatment in LLLT group. In addition, this improvement is continued for up to 3 months. However, no significant difference was observed according to the Foot Function Index-pain subscale (FFI-p). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis indicates that the LLLT in patients with PF significantly relieves the heel pain and the excellent efficacy lasts for 3 months after treatment.
Subject(s)
Fasciitis, Plantar/radiotherapy , Low-Level Light Therapy/methods , Adult , Female , Heel/radiation effects , Humans , Male , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
PURPOSE: For antero posterior (AP) pelvis radiographic examination, determine the impact of anode heel orientation on female/male gonad dose. METHODS: High sensitivity thermo-luminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were used with an ATOM dosimetry phantom; the phantom was positioned for AP pelvis. TLDs were placed into the testes and ovaries. Radiation dose received by these organs was measured with the feet toward anode and feet toward the cathode. kVp, mAs and SID were manipulated to generate a range of exposures. A dose profile was also generated using Unfors Mult-O-Meter 401 along the long axis of the phantom. RESULTS: A decrease in dose from the central ray toward the anode was noted, with a marked increase toward the cathode. A significant reduction in dose was received by the testes with feet towards the anode compared with feet towards cathode (PË0.001). No difference was seen for ovarian dose (PË0.05). kVp, mAs and SID all have an effect on male and female gonad dose. CONCLUSION: For male pelvis imaging, placing feet towards the anode can be used as a simple dose reduction method.
Subject(s)
Gonads/radiation effects , Heel/radiation effects , Patient Positioning , Pelvis/diagnostic imaging , Radiation Dosage , Female , Humans , Male , Phantoms, Imaging , Thermoluminescent DosimetryABSTRACT
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The goal of this work was to evaluate the long-term efficacy of two dose-fractionation schedules for radiotherapy of calcaneodynia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between February 2006 and February 2010, 457 evaluable patients were recruited for this prospective trial. All patients received orthovoltage radiotherapy. One course consisted of 6 fractions/3 weeks. In case of insufficient remission of pain after 6 weeks a second series was performed. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either single doses of 0.5 or 1.0 Gy. Endpoint was pain reduction. Pain was measured before, right after (early response), 6 weeks (delayed response), and approximately 2.5 years after radiotherapy (long-term response) with a questionnaire-based visual analogue scale (VAS) and a comprehensive pain score (CPS). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 32 months (range 9-57 months). The overall early, delayed, and long-term response rates for all patients were 87, 88, and 95%. The mean VAS values before treatment, for early, delayed, and long-term response for the 0.5 and 1.0 Gy groups were 65.5 ± 22.1 and 64.0 ± 20.5 (p = 0.19), 34.8 ± 24.7 and 39.0 ± 26.3 (p = 0.12), 25.1 ± 26.8 and 28.9 ± 26.8 (p = 0.16), and 16.3 ± 24.3 and 14.1 ± 19.7 (p = 0.68). The mean CPS values before treatment, for early, delayed, and log-term response were 10.1 ± 2.7 and 10.0 ± 3.0 (p = 0.78), 5.6 ± 3.7 and 6.0 ± 3.9 (p = 0.34), 4.0 ± 4.1 and 4.3 ± 3.6 (p = 0.26), and 2.1 ± 3.3 and 2.3 ± 3.2 (p = 0.34), respectively. No significant differences in long-term response quality between the two arms were found (p = 0.50). CONCLUSION: Radiotherapy is a very effective treatment for the management of benign calcaneodynia. For radiation protection reasons, the dose for a RT series should not exceed 3.0 Gy.
