Comparative study of the therapeutic effects of corticosteroid injection accompanied by casting and heel pad in treatment of heel pain

Heel pain is a common condition in adults that may cause significant discomfort and disability. This study was conducted to evaluate the therapeutic effects of corticosteroid injection accompanied by casting, compared with heel pad utilization in treatment of heel pain. In this randomized clinical trial study, among patients referred to orthopedic clinics in Isfahan, Iran, from December 2004 to December 2006, 90 patients with heel pain were enrolled. They were randomly assigned into two groups. Heel pad was the only therapeutic method utilized in group A for six months. Corticosteroid injection accompanied by casting was performed for patients in group B. The evaluated information was compared before and after treatment. Among patients in group A, after 6 months of heel pad utilization, heel pain was completely improved in 3 patients (6.7%), relatively decreased in 22 patients (48.9%) and didn''t change in 20 patients (44.4%). However, among patients in group B, heel pain was completely improved in 11 patients (24.5%), decreased in 29 patients (64.4%) and didn''t change in 5 patients (11.1%) after the treatment completed. It seemed that corticosteroid injection in companion with casting was a more effective therapeutic method in heel pain treatment than heel pad utilization.