Ultrasound-guided extracorporeal shock wave therapy for plantar fasciitis: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) is increasingly used for plantar fasciitis, but limited evidence supports its use.

Objective: To determine whether ultrasound-guided ESWT reduces pain and improves function in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Design: Double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted between April 1999 and June 2001.