***TASK*** the task is to summarize an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***INPUT*** the input is a biomedical literature 
    ***OUTPUT*** the output is the summary of an input biomedical literature in six sentences 
    ***DOCUMENTATION*** 
    ***EXAMPLES*** 
    Input: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of low-level laser therapy ( LLLT ) on plantar fasciitis documented by the ultrasonographic appearance of the aponeurosis and by patients ’ pain scores . Thirty individuals with diagnosis of unilateral plantar fasciitis were enrolled in a r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial , but 25 participants completed the therapeutic protocol . The contralateral asymptomatic fascia was used as control . After enrolment , symptomatic individuals were r and omly assigned to receive LLLT , or identical placebo , for 6 weeks . Ultrasonography was performed at baseline and after completion of therapy . The subjective subcalcaneal pain was recorded at baseline and after treatment on a visual analogue scale ( VAS ) . After LLLT , plantar fascia thickness in both groups showed significant change over the experimental period and there was a difference ( before treatment and after treatment ) in plantar fascia thickness between the two groups . However , plantar fascia thickness was insignificant ( mean 3.627 ± 0.977 mm ) when compared with that in the placebo group ( mean 4.380 ± 1.0042 mm ) . Pain estimation on the visual analogue scale had improved significantly in all test situations ( after night rest , daily activities ) after LLLT when compared with that of the placebo group . ( P = 0.006 and P = 0.01 , respectively ) . Additionally , when the difference in pain scores was compared between the two groups , the change was statistically significant ( after night rest P = 0.000 ; daily activities P = 0.001 ) . In summary , while ultrasound imaging is able to depict the morphologic changes related to plantar fasciitis , 904 nm gallium – arsenide ( GaAs ) infrared laser may contribute to healing and pain reduction in plantar fasciitis One hundred fifty patients were enrolled in a multicenter , r and omized , placebo-controlled , prospect i ve , doubleblind study to assess the clinical safety and effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy ( ESWT ) using the Dornier Epos Ultra for the treatment of plantar fasciitis . The Active Group was treated with electromagnetically generated shocks using ultrasound guidance during a single therapy session . The Control Group received a sham treatment under similar clinical conditions . The groups were demographically similar with respect to age , height , and weight . The average duration of symptoms was nearly 2 years in both groups . All patients were evaluated by the  visual analog scale for pain , American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society scores , Roles and Maudsley Score , SF-12 health status question naire , and physical examination . The Active Group reported 56 % success at 3 months and 94 % success at 12 months posttreatment . The Control Group reported 47 % success at 3 months posttreatment . Twelve-month data were not collected for the Control Group as they were unblinded at 3 months and offered treatment . ESWT represents a safe treatment option for chronic proximal plantar fasciitis PURPOSE To compare the effectiveness of sonographically guided and palpation-guided steroid injection for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis . PATIENTS AND METHODS Twenty-five consecutive patients with unilateral proximal plantar fasciitis were recruited and r and omly divided into a sonographically guided group ( n = 12 ) and palpation-guided group ( n = 13 ) . Proximal plantar fascia was assessed with a 5- to 12-MHz linear-array transducer .  Pain intensity was quantified using a " tenderness threshold " ( TT ) and a visual analog scale ( VAS ) . Injection of 7 mg ( 1 ml ) of betamethasone and 0.5 ml of 1 % lidocaine into the inflamed proximal plantar fascia was performed under the guidance of sonography or palpation . Patients were evaluated clinical ly and sonographically before injection and at 2 weeks , 2 months , and 1 year after injection . VAS- and TT-measured pain intensity , thickness , and echogenicity of the proximal plantar fascia , as well as the recurrence of heel pain , were assessed . RESULTS Both VAS- and TT-measured levels of pain improved significantly after steroid injection in both groups ( p < 0.001 ) . Also , the thickness decreased significantly after injection ( p < 0.01 in the palpation-guided group ; p < 0.001 in the sonographically guided group ) . The number of patients with hypoechogenicity at the proximal plantar fascia decreased after steroid injection in both groups ( p < 0.01 for both groups ) . The recurrence rate of plantar fasciitis in patients of the palpation-guided group ( 6/13 ) was significantly higher than that of the sonographically guided group ( 1/12 ) ( p < 0.05 ) . CONCLUSIONS Steroid injection can be an effective way to treat plantar fasciitis , and injection under sonographic guidance is associated with lower recurrence of heel pain OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of ultrasound guided corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis . DESIGN R and omised , investigator and participant blinded , placebo controlled trial . SETTING University clinic in Melbourne , Australia . PARTICIPANTS 82 people with a clinical and ultrasound diagnosis of plantar fasciitis unrelated to systemic inflammatory disease . INTERVENTIONS Participants were r and omly allocated to ultrasound guided injection of the plantar fascia with either 1 mL of 4 mg/mL dexamethasone sodium phosphate ( experimental group ) or 1 mL normal saline ( placebo ) . Before injection the participants were given an ultrasound guided posterior tibial nerve block with 2 % lidocaine ( lignocaine ) . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Primary outcomes were pain , as measured by the foot health status question naire ( 0 - 100 point scale ) , and plantar fascia thickness , measured by ultrasound at 4 , 8 , and 12 weeks . RESULTS Reduction in pain at four weeks favoured the dexamethasone group by 10.9 points ( 95 % confidence interval 1.4 to 20.4 , P=0.03 ) . Between group differences for pain scores at eight and 12 weeks were not statistically significant . Plantar fascia thickness measured at four weeks favoured the dexamethasone group by -0.35 mm ( 95 % confidence interval -0.67 to -0.03 , P=0.03 ) . At eight and 12 weeks , between group differences for plantar fascia thickness also favoured dexamethasone , at -0.39 mm ( -0.73 to -0.05 , P=0.02 ) and -0.43 mm ( -0.85 to -0.01 , P=0.04 ) , respectively . The number needed to treat with dexamethasone for one successful outcome for pain at four weeks was 2.93 ( 95 % confidence interval 2.76 to 3.12 ) . There were no reported adverse events associated with the intervention . CONCLUSION A single ultrasound guided dexamethasone injection is a safe and effective short term treatment for plantar fasciitis . It provides greater pain relief than placebo at four weeks and reduces abnormal swelling of the plantar fascia for up to three months . However , clinicians offering this treatment should also note that significant pain relief did not continue beyond four weeks . TRIAL REGISTRATION Australian New Zeal and Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12610000239066 OBJECTIVE To investigate the efficacy of ultrasound-guided steroid injection for the treatment of proximal plantar fasciitis and to evaluate mechanical properties of the heel pad after steroid injection . DESIGN Proximal plantar fascia and heel pad were assessed with a 10-MHz linear array ultrasound transducer .  Pain intensity was quantified with a tenderness threshold ( TT ) and visual analog scale ( VAS ) . The transducer was incorporated into a specially design ed device to measure mechanical properties of the heel pad . Evaluations were performed before injection and at 2 weeks and 3 months after injection . SETTING An outpatient clinic of a tertiary care center . PATIENTS Fourteen consecutive patients with unilateral proximal plantar fasciitis . INTERVENTION Ultrasound-guided injection of 7 mg betamethasone and 0.5 mL of 1 % lidocaine into the inflamed proximal plantar fascia . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES VAS , TT , heel pad and plantar fascia thickness , and echogenicity of the proximal plantar fascia on sonogram were assessed . Mechanical properties included unloaded heel pad thickness , compressibility index , and energy dissipation ratio . RESULTS Both VAS score + /- st and ard deviation ( SD ; 5.43 + /- 2.03 , 1.39 + /- 2.19 , 0.57 + /- 1.40 at the 3 measurements , respectively ) and TT + /- SD ( 5.05 + /- 1.42 , 9.34 + /- 1.84 , 9.93 + /- 1.98 kg/cm2 at the 3 measurements , respectively ) improved significantly ( p < .001 ) after steroid injection . The mean thickness of the plantar fascia was greater in the symptomatic side than in the asymptomatic side before treatment ( 0.58 + /- 0.13 cm vs 0.40 + /- 0.11 cm , p < .001 ) . The thickness had decreased significantly 3 months after injection ( 0.46 + /- 0.12 cm at 2 weeks , 0.42 + /- 0.10 cm at 3 months , p < .001 ) . The hypoechogenicity at the proximal plantar fascia disappeared after steroid injection ( p < .001 ) . Mechanical properties of the heel pad did not change 3 months after steroid injection ( p > .05 ) . CONCLUSION Ultrasound offers an objective measurement of the therapeutic effect on proximal plantar fasciitis . Accurate steroid injection under ultrasound guidance can effectively treat proximal plantar fasciitis without significant deterioration of the mechanical properties of the heel pads OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to prospect ively investigate the effect of sonographically guided corticosteroid injection on the clinical and radiologic responses in patients with proximal plantar fasciosis . METHODS Thirty-one consecutive patients with unilateral plantar fasciosis were enrolled . A 4-cm 21-gauge needle was positioned in a caudocranial oblique manner , and the needle was withdrawn to the near edge of the fascia so that the solution dispersed around the edge . Two milliliters ( 20 mg/mL ) of lignocaine/prilocaine , 1 % , and 0.5 mL ( 20 mg ) of methylprednisolone acetate solutions were injected separately . The plantar fascia and fat pad thickness , fascial echogenicity , and perifascial edema were assessed with a 10 - 5 MHz linear array transducer . The American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society midfoot scale was used to assess function , alignment , and pain . The initial radiologic and clinical measurements were compared with data obtained not less than 6 weeks after the injections . RESULTS A statistically significant decrease in the mean plantar fascia thickness was detected after treatment ( P < .0001 ) . There was no statistically significant difference in the plantar fascia echogenicity before and after treatment ( P = .11 ) . A statistically significant decrease was found for perifascial edema ( P < .0001 ) , and a statistically significant increase in American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society scores was detected ( P = .0007 ) . There was no decrease in fat pad thickness ( P > .1 ) . Plantar fascia rupture was detected in 1 patient . CONCLUSIONS Sonographically guided corticosteroid injection enables real-time imaging of the plantar fascia during needle insertion . A caudocranial oblique injection beneath the fascia may have an incremental value in the treatment response in patients with plantar fasciosis Background Plantar fasciitis is a common cause of heel pain in adults . Many treatment options exist . Platelets rich plasma ( PRP ) is derived from autologous blood and contains high concentration of growth factors necessary for tissue healing . The use of PRP in the treatment of plantar fasciitis is a fairly recent and evolving concept . The purpose of our work was to study the effectiveness of PRP treatment for chronic plantar fasciitis . Material s and methods Between February 2010 and June 2011 , 25 patients with chronic plantar fasciitis with a mean age of 44 years were treated by  PRP injection and included in this prospect i ve study . All patients were assessed for the pain on Visual Analogue Scale ( VAS ) pre-injection and post-injection . Using ultrasound , the thickness of the plantar fascia was measured prior to the injection of PRP and at each visit of follow-up after injection . The mean follow-up was 10.3 months . Results Using a visual analog pain scale , the average pre-injection pain in patients of was 9.1 ( range 8–10 ) . Prior to injection , 72 % of patients had severe limitation of activities , and 28 % of patients had moderate limitation of activities . Average post-injection pain decreased to 1.6 . Twenty-two patients ( 88 % ) were completely satisfied , two patients ( 8 % ) were satisfied with reservations , and one patient ( 4 % ) was unsatisfied with using the visual analog scale . Fifteen patients ( 60 % ) had no functional limitations post-injection and eight patients ( 32 % ) had minimal functional limitations . Two patients ( 8 % ) 
    Output:
    
The results indicated that US can be considered a reliable imaging technique for assessing PF thickness , monitoring the effect of different interventions and guiding therapeutic interventions in patients with PFS