Table 5.

Mean differences between and within groups of included studies

Trial	Difference between groups	Differences within groups
Tillu and Gupta (1998)	N/A (one group only)	(i) VAS pain:    @ 4 weeks (34.7% improvement, p < 0.001)    @ 6 weeks (67.9% improvement, p < 0.001)    @ 6 weeks vs 4 weeks, (difference 33.2%, p = 0.047)
		(ii) Verbal pain score (% of improvement): 40.2 (40.1%) @ 4 weeks and 65.9 (32.8%) @ 6 weeks
			Intervention	Control
Imamura et al. (1998)	Duration of treatment (weeks): Significantly less in intervention group (83.9% difference between the groups, p < 0.05)	(i) Mean duration of treatment in weeks (SD) (ii) VAS pain:    @ discharge    @ 6 months    @ 2 years	3.4 (2.2) 58.4% improvement, p = 0.003 67.1% improvement, p = 0.007 67.1% improvement p = 0.002	21.1 (19.5) 54.9% improvement, p < 0.05 values not reported at 6 months values not reported at 12 months
		(iii) PPT (gastrocnemius):    @ discharge    @ 6 months    @ 2 years	130% increase, p = 0.001 71% increase, p = 0.009 55% increase, p = 0.023	PPT not reported for control
		(iv) PPT (medial calcaneal tubercle) at:    @ discharge    @ 6 months    @ 2 years	106% increase, p = 0.004 values not reported at 6    months 143% increase, p = 0.007	PPT not reported for control
Perez-Millan and Foster (2001)	N/A (one group only)	(i) VAS pain:    @ 6 weeks (46% improvement, p < 0.001)
		(ii) Foot function index questionnaire scores*:    significantly less pain for 10 out of 12

Key: N/A: Not applicable; VAS = visual analogue scale; MTrP = Myofascial trigger point; PPT = Pressure pain threshold; *The foot function index questionnaire used in this trial was not validated