Use of Botulinum Toxin for Plantar Fasciitis

Introduction

Plantar fasciitis is a common condition characterized by heel pain, often due to inflammation of the plantar fascia. Various treatments are used to relieve this pain, and botulinum toxin (BTX-A) is one of the recent approaches that has shown promising results.

Evidence

Randomized Controlled Trial

A study showed that injection of BTX-A resulted in significant improvement in foot function and pain reduction compared to placebo at 6 and 12 months after treatment (Ahmad, 2017).

Short-Term Improvement

Another study found that injection of BTX-A into the affected foot led to significant improvement in all measures of pain and foot function compared to placebo at 3 and 8 weeks after treatment (Babcock et al., 2005).

Long-Term Studies

A follow-up study showed that the positive effects of BTX-A on pain and foot function were maintained up to 12 months after injection (Díaz-Llopis et al., 2013).

Comparison with Corticosteroids

A study comparing BTX-A to corticosteroid injections found that BTX-A was more effective in reducing pain and improving foot function over a 6-month period (Elizondo-Rodríguez et al., 2013).

Conclusion

Injections of botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A) appear to be an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis, providing significant pain reduction and improvement in foot function in both the short and long term. Comparative studies with other treatments, such as corticosteroids, also show the superiority of BTX-A in managing this condition.