The real risks of steroid injection for plantar fasciitis, with a review of conservative therapies

Abstract

This article presents a review of conservative therapies for plantar fasciitis pain reduction with a discussion of steroid therapy risks. The therapies reviewed include orthoses, stretching, extracorporeal shockwave, BTX-A, and corticosteroid injection/iontophoresis. These modes were included based on the availability of double blinded randomized controlled trials. We noted the following findings. Orthoses, regardless of type, can improve pain levels. Plantar stretching shows limited short-term benefit (1 month), but can reflect significant long-term improvement (10 months). Extracorporeal shockwave therapy shows equivocal benefit with some studies showing significant improvement and others showing none. Although BTX-A injections were the least studied, significant pain improvement was demonstrated in the short and long term. Steroid injection/iontophoresis showed significant improvement in the short term (1 month). Steroid therapy, when coupled with plantar stretching, can provide efficacious pain relief; however, steroid injections should be combined with ultrasound monitoring to reduce complications.

Plantar fasciitis is a common foot disorder responsible for approximately one million physician visits per year [1]. While there are a plethora of management techniques for plantar fasciitis, there are none that are presented as a definitive technique. In addition, the etiology of plantar fasciitis is not well understood [2]. Accordingly, this article will focus on a variety of conservative therapies with a follow-up focus on steroid injections and the risks thereof.

Anatomy

The plantar fascia is synonymous with the deep fascia of the sole of the foot. The plantar fascia is comprised of pearly white longitudinally organized fibers. It begins at the medial tuberosity of the calcaneus where it is thinner and extends into a thicker center portion. This thicker portion is flanked by thinner lateral and medial portions. The thicker central portion of the plantar fascia then extends into five bands surrounding the digital tendons (Fig. 1) [2, 3].

Fig. 1.

From Buchbinder [4]. Used with permission from NEJM. Plantar and medial views of the foot demonstrating the origin and insertion of the plantar fascia and the location of nerves in proximity to the heel. The windlass mechanism, or bowstring effect, of the plantar fascia refers to its function in raising the arch of the foot during the push-off phase of walking

Plantar fasciitis classically presents histologically with “degenerative changes in the plantar fascia, with or without fibroelastic proliferation and chronic inflammatory changes” [4].

Mechanics of the plantar fascia

Hicks described a windlass mechanism of action for the plantar fascia. Dorsiflexion of the toes leads to a shortened effective length of the plantar fascia causing a raising of the arch. Toe extension leads to increased arch tension with the metatarsophalangeal joint as the pivot or tethering point. Hicks [5] demonstrated this definitively with cadaveric models.

When a plantar fasciotomy was performed, the cadaver would lose this windlass mechanism, thus diminishing the arch stability subsequently disallowing a more stable terminal stance and toe standing. In addition, Hicks [5] found that the breaking strain for this windlass ranged from 1.4 to 3.4 times the subject’s body weight. Thus, the plantar fascia, while playing a significant role in walking stability, can readily break with a minimal increase in strain.

While the exact etiology of plantar fasciitis remains unclear, it is theorized that overloading the plantar foot muscles originating at the volar calcaneus (adductor hallucis, quadratus plantae, flexor digitorum brevis, and abductor digiti minimi quinti) can lead to inflammation and consequent pain in the plantar fascia [6]. Hence, therapy for plantar fasciitis focuses on either reducing the muscle tightness that causes the initial injury or reducing the inflammation that worsens the injury.

Diagnosis

Plantar fasciitis is a clinical diagnosis. It is based on patient history and physical exam. Patients can present with local point tenderness along the medial tuberosity of the os calcis, pain on weight bearing and/or pain on first steps. Plantar fascia pain is especially evident upon dorsiflexion of the patients pedal phalanges, which further stretches the plantar fascia or windlass mechanism. Therefore, any activity that would increase stretch of the plantar fascia, such as walking barefoot without any arch support, climbing stairs, or toe walking, can worsen the pain [4, 7].

Method

A Medline search from 1996 to the present was performed. Trials were included if they were randomized studies and evaluated orthoses, stretching, extracorporeal shockwave, BTX-A, or corticosteroid injection as therapies for plantar fasciitis. Trials were excluded if they did not meet the above criteria or if they compared the efficacy of one mode of therapy to another, that is, stretching to orthoses or BTX-A to steroid therapy in plantar fasciitis. According to SORT grading of quality of evidence assessments [8], all studies used were Level 1. Case studies, retrospective studies, descriptive articles, and quasi-randomized studies were excluded from the review; however, these studies were included in the introduction and discussion sections (Table 1).

Table 1.

SORT graded as per Ebell et al. [8]

Subject	Authors	Symptom duration prior to therapy	Pain free time after therapy	Significant improvement from baseline?	Therapy grade	Consistency
Orthoses					A	Consistent
	Landorf et al. [9]	4 weeks	3 months	Yes
	Winemiller et al. [10]	30 days	4 weeks, 8 weeks	Yes
Stretching					B	Consistent
	DiGiovanni et al. [11]	10 months	8 weeks	Yes
	DiGiovanni et al. [12]	10 months	2 years	Yes
	Radford et al. [13]	4 weeks	2 weeks	No
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy					A	Inconsistent
	Haake et al. [14]	6 months	12 weeks, 1 year	No
	Speed et al. [15]	3 months	6 months	No
	Buchbinder et al. [16]	6 weeks	12 weeks	No
	Kudo et al. [17]	6 months	3 months	Yes
	Ogden et al. [18]	N/A	3 months, 1 year	Yes
BTX-A					B	Consistent
	Babcock et al. [19]	6 months	3 weeks, 8 weeks	Yes
Steroid injection/iontophoresis					A	Consistent
	Crawford et al. [20]	N/A	1 month	Yes
	Gudeman et al. [21]	N/A	2 weeks	Yes

Note: All are Level 1 quality studies

Numerous treatment measures have been used for plantar fasciitis with varied clinical benefits. Nonsurgical techniques include orthoses [9, 10], stretching [11–13], splinting, taping, topical medications with or without iontophoresis, oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications [22], extracorporeal shockwave therapy [14–18], laser, and percutaneous injections with steroid [20, 21] or botulinum toxin type A. Surgical options with endoscopic or open fasciotomy can be the last resort for patients with intractable plantar fasciitis [23], but are not discussed further in the article.

Orthoses

Landorf et al. described a participant blinded randomized trial where they compared the response of 135 patients with plantar fasciitis to soft thin foam sham orthoses, prefabricated firm foam orthoses, and customized semi-rigid plastic orthoses over 3 months. While they were able to show statistically significant results for improved function with the prefabricated and customized orthoses as compared to the sham, Landorf et al. [9] were unable to show statistical significance for improvements in pain and concluded that both customized and prefabricated orthoses were efficacious for the treatment of plantar fasciitis.

Winemiller et al. compared the response of 101 patients to active bipolar magnet cushioned insoles or sham insoles over 8 weeks. They found that there was no statistically significant difference in improvement in subjective heel pain between different insole modes; however, there was a statistically significant improvement in both the magnetic and nonmagnetic groups in morning foot pain intensity. Winemiller et al. [10] claimed that magnetic insoles provide no additional benefit as compared to nonmagnetic.

Stretch

DiGiovanni et al. assessed the role of Achilles tendon stretching versus plantar fascia stretching in a randomized study of 101 patients. Both Achilles stretching groups and plantar fascia stretching groups appreciated a decrease in pain upon first steps in the morning as well as increased function; however, the plantar stretchers appreciated a statistically significant improvement in activity function and first step pain as compared to the Achilles stretchers [11].

DiGiovanni further assessed the improvement of plantar fascia versus Achilles tendon stretching by directly comparing the two in a crossover study of the same patient pool with a 2-year follow up. DiGiovanni et al. switched Achilles tendon group to plantar fascia stretching after the initial 8 weeks of the trial. After 2 years, the Achilles tendon patient pool was reassessed for maximum pain level and pain on first steps in the morning. While there was a significant difference between the two groups at 8 weeks, there was no statistical difference between the two at 2 years, with further improvement in pain in both groups [12].

Radford recruited 92 subjects for their study that compared calf muscle stretching with sham ultrasound to sham ultrasound alone. The study tested the short-term effectiveness of stretching. In the 14 days that the study lasted, there was no statistically significant difference between stretch and sham groups. Radford et al. concluded that short-term stretching shows no statistically significant benefit for plantar fasciitis [13].

Extracorporeal shockwave therapy

Haake et al. assessed the efficacy of extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in 272 subjects. The patients employed in this study had tried more conservative methods of plantar fasciitis therapy without effect for approximately 6 months. The study pool either received ESWT or sham therapy. The patients were assessed after 12 weeks. Haake et al. found that approximately three-fourth of their study pool improved regardless of sham or ESWT. Consequently, they showed that ESWT was “ineffective in the treatment of chronic plantar fasciitis” [14].

Speed studied 88 patients who had plantar fasciitis for at least 3 months each. The patients were exposed to therapeutic sessions with sham or ESWT once every month for a total of 3 months. Three effects were assessed: day pain, night pain, and “morning startup pain.” The patients were assessed at the beginning of the study, the beginning of the treatment, and at 1 and 3 months after completion of the treatment. Over the 6-month course of the study, no statistical significance was shown between sham and ESWT groups in the above categories [15].

Buchbinder et al. recruited 166 patients for their study in which they used ultrasound guided ESWT on patients who had plantar fasciitis for at least 6 weeks. Statistically significant improvements were appreciated in both the placebo/sham groups and ESWT groups in morning step pain, general activity pain, and overall pain characterization. Buchbinder et al. [16] demonstrated that ESWT provided no greater benefit than placebo.

Kudo et al. performed a confirmatory study in which they compared ESWT to sham ESWT in 114 patients with plantar fasciitis for at least 6 months and resistant to other therapies. Patients were excluded from the study if they had used other modes of therapy within 2 weeks of their treatment. The patients were exposed to a single treatment. This study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in first steps pain by visual analog scale at 3 months. Kudo et al. [17] reported that ESWT provides for a beneficial treatment in recalcitrant plantar fasciitis.

Ogden et al. found ESWT to be an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis in their two phase trial. In the first phase, they formulated and finalized their protocol with 20 nonblinded patients. In the phase two trial, Ogden randomized 293 patients to receive either ESWT and an ankle block or a mild anesthetic and nontransmitted shockwaves. They found significant differences in investigator assessment of heel pain at 4, 8, and 12 weeks and at 12 months using a dolorimeter-based visual analog scale. Significance was also found in subjective self-assessment of morning heel pain at the same time intervals. However, in self-assessment of activity related pain, significance could be found at 4, 8, and 12 weeks, but not at 12 months. Hence, Ogden et al. [18] were able to complete that ESWT shows beneficial response in plantar fasciitis up to and for at least 1 year.

Botulinum toxin type A (BTX-A)

Babcock et al. investigated 27 patients (43 plantar fasciae) with duration of symptoms for at least 6 months. Either BTX-A was injected into the feet of the therapy group or saline into the sham group. In the case of patients with bilateral plantar fasciitis, saline was injected into one foot and BTX-A in the other. The authors showed that the BTX-A groups had statistically significant improvements at 3 and 8 weeks in all variables tested (Maryland foot score, pain visual analog scale, pressure algometry response, and pain relief visual analog scale). Babcock et al. [19] finalized that BTX-A injections into the plantar fascia improves the patients pain level.

Steroid

Crawford et al. described 106 patients, which they divided into four groups: prednisolone with lignocaine, prednisolone with lignocaine after a tibial block, lignocaine alone, or lignocaine after a tibial block. There was no statistically significant difference in pain levels when prednisolone was given with tibial block or when anesthetic was given. There was a statistically significant decrease in pain levels according to visual analog scales in both groups of patients receiving steroid after 1 month; however, after 3 months there was no statistical significant difference. Hence, Crawford et al. [20] concluded that steroid injections can provide short-term relief.

Gudeman assessed the efficacy of steroid iontophoresis in 40 feet (37 subjects). Feet were divided equally into a group that received phosphate buffered solution iontophoresis and one that received dexamethasone iontophoresis. The treatments lasted for 2 weeks during which each foot received six iontophereses. The Maryland foot score was used to analyze the groups. The active group showed significantly greater improvement immediately after treatment. However, both groups showed positive results at 1 month follow up. Ultimately, Gudeman et al. [21] found that dexamethasone iontophoresis is effective in improving pain immediately after treatment, but not more than placebo in the longer term.

Discussion

As evidenced above, multiple modes of therapy can lead to pain reduction in plantar fasciitis. Initial conservative management provides satisfactory results in approximately 80–90% of cases in clinical practice [24–27]. When more conservative management is unsuccessful, steroid injection is a preferred option [28–30]. Although steroid injection is the mainstay for the management of many hyper inflammatory disorders, there is little known about steroid affect at the cellular level and, consequently, little about the etiology of the risks of connective tissue rupture after the same [31].

Fascial rupture, which can be likened to tendon rupture, was investigated by Kennedy and Willis, who found that failing strengths decreased by 35% after administration of steroid in vitro to Achilles tendons. Cystic spaces and collagen necrosis were appreciated in their steroid group. This result continued through to 7 days. However, at 2 and 4 weeks following injection, these cystic spaces were replaced by an eosinophillic staining material and fibroblast proliferation was noted. Disordered collagen deposition was appreciated under scanning electron microscope. In addition, the failing strength returned to that of the control subjects. By 6 weeks, full biomechanical integrity was reestablished as evidenced by reorganization of collagen into parallel fibers. Hence, Kennedy and Willis concluded that physiologic dosed steroid injection weakens normal tendons for up to 14 days through collagen necrosis. They also recommend limited physical activity for the 2 weeks following injection and against repeated injection [24].

Furthermore, Wong et al. [32] showed that glucocorticoids suppress cellular metabolism and collagen synthesis in cultured human tenocytes and proteoglycan production [31]. Proteoglycan synthesis has a role in extracellular matrix and collagen matrix fibrillinogenesis. Wong et al. [31, 33] concluded that spontaneous rupture following steroid injection may occur through suppression of proteoglycan synthesis.

While steroid injection and iontophoresis can significantly improve foot pain in plantar fasciitis, the two methods warrant further investigation. As evidenced by Crawford and Gudeman, steroid therapy in plantar fasciitis plays a significant role in short-term therapy [20, 21]. However, a number of complications were noted including plantar fascial rupture, plantar fat pad atrophy, lateral plantar nerve injury secondary to injection, and calcaneal osteomyelitis and in iontophoresis, burning of the underlying skin [21, 34–39].

Fascial rupture and fat pad atrophy are especially serious complications as they can lead to intractable complications. Fascial rupture interrupts the intrinsic windlass mechanism of the foot and can promote further inflammation in the surrounding tissue, thus promoting pain. In addition, plantar fat pad atrophy diminishes subcalcaneal cushioning, availing the plantar fascia to further insult and, hence, more pain. Acevedo et al. appreciated symptomatic rupture in approximately 10% of subjects. Their retrospective chart review showed that approximately two-thirds of the patients (29/44) developed sudden onset rupture with a subsequent inability to weight bear, whereas one-third did not have acute onset. All of the ruptured patients presented with new additional symptoms including long arch pain, lateral mid foot pain, and an exam showing decreased windlass tension [35].

Treatment of plantar fasciitis rupture remains unclear. Treatment options for the rupture are open surgical repair, endoscopic repair, and nonoperative measures. Sellman and Acevedo et al. demonstrated that 50% of symptomatic ruptured plantar fasciitis patients have long-term complications [36]. Acevedo and Beskin [35] used a special treatment protocol including a “boot brace” which was beneficial for expedited symptom improvement with a switch to a stiff soled athletic shoe with an arch support orthosis. Daly et al. [40] performed plantar fasciotomy for those patients with intractable plantar fasciitis with resolution of symptomology in 57% of the patients.

Because of the recent availability and facility of ultrasound (US) to improve needle placement accuracy and confirmatory magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in clinical practice, enhanced therapeutic response rates have been reflected in some of the studies [29, 30, 35, 41]. Tsai et al. described the objectivity of US-guided steroid injection to plantar fascia by demonstrating a decrease in fascial thickness and loss of hypoechogenicity. In addition, following single US-guided steroid injection, fat pad atrophy, which was theorized to cause worsening pedal dynamics, was not observed [30]. Heel fat pad inflammation and degeneration may cause pain and can be misdiagnosed as plantar fasciitis [42]. Further, MRI or US can be used to make appropriate diagnoses, which is particularly important for patients with chronic polyarthritis.

Nevertheless, these complications are uncommon and preventable; rupture may occur without steroid injections [35]. Paying special attention to history and physical examination change can lend some clues to associated complications. Monitoring sudden pain loss, change of patient pain location, developing numbness, changes in plantar fascial and fat pad thickness, edema, palpable masses, asymmetric flexible hammertoe deformities of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th toes without nerve injury, and utilizing US for follow ups and injection placement can help to alleviate negative outcomes. Further, limiting the number and frequency of steroid injections and educating patients on reduction of aggressive physical activity during a 2-week post-injection period should be suggested [35].

Conclusion

Steroid therapy is a valuable adjunct to other therapy measures, including plantar fascial stretching. However, one should be cognizant that overuse of steroid injection can lead to complications. US guidance should be utilized to improve injection target and monitor soft tissue changes, thus preventing complication.