Background: Plantar heel pain is a commonly occurring foot complaint. Various electrotherapy modalities are frequently utilized as a treatment.
Objective: To determine the effects of a combination of dexamethasone with lidocaine hydrochloride for the treatment of patients with plantar fasciitis (PF).
Materials and Methods: A total of 40 patients suffering from PF were divided into two groups; Group A received iontophoresis with distilled water along with 4 mg/mL dexamethasone and 2 cm3 of lidocaine hydrochloride (4% lidocaine hydrochloride), and Group B received iontophoresis with distilled water. Both groups received stretching of plantar fascia and calf muscles, followed by ultrasound for 5 min. Treatment for each patient was for a period of 2 weeks with 3 sessions per week.
Result: Group A showed significant decrease in symptoms of PF posttreatment.
Conclusion: Iontophoresis with lidocaine hydrochloride showed better results in decreasing symptoms of PF as compared to iontophoresis with distilled water only.
Key words: plantar heel pain, iontophoresis, lidocaine hydrochloride
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