Abstract：【Objective】 To observe the efficacy of herbal fumigation combined with extracorporeal radial shock wave therapy in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis induced heel pain, and its impact on recurrence. 【Methods】 A total of 94 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis and heel pain treated in our hospital were randomly divided into the control group and the observation group, with 47 cases in each group. The control group received radial extracorporeal shock wave therapy, while the observation group received additional herbal fumigation. Both groups performed plantar fascia and Achilles tendon stretching exercises under physician guidance. The clinical efficacy and recurrence rates of the two groups were compared as well. 【Results】 After treatment, the visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores of both groups decreased compared to before treatment (P<0.05), with the observation group showing lower scores than the control group (P<0.05). The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) scale scores of both groups increased compared to before treatment (P<0.05), with the observation group showing higher scores than the control group (P<0.05). The recurrence rate in the observation group one year after treatment was 10.64%, which was lower than that in the control group's 27.66% (P<0.05). After treatment, Traditional Chinese Medicine syndrome scores in both groups decreased compared to before treatment (P<0.05), with the observation group showing lower scores than the control group (P<0.05). The total incidence of adverse reactions in the observation group was 8.51%, which was higher than the control group's 4.26%, but the difference was not statistically significant (P>0.05). 【Conclusion】 Herbal fumigation combined with extracorporeal radial shock wave therapy can alleviate pain symptoms in patients with chronic plantar fasciitis induced heel pain, improve foot and ankle function, help reduce recurrence, and has good safety.
2024, Vol. 41 
