Comparing different session regimens of electroacupuncture for chronic plantar fasciitis: Study protocol for a randomized clinical trial

• Published in: Contemporary clinical trials communications 2024-10, Vol.41, p.101355, Article 101355
• Main Authors: Shi, Jiaxiang, Jiao, Ruimin, Liu, Yan, Liu, Xinkun, Sun, Yingxin, Shi, Hangyu, Gao, Ning, Liu, Zhishun, Liang, Jun, Wang, Weiming
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Clinical trial; Electroacupuncture; Plantar fasciitis
• ISSN: 2451-8654; 2451-8654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.conctc.2024.101355

Plantar fasciitis (PF) is one of the most common causes of plantar heel pain, and previous studies found that acupuncture is effective for relieving pain in patients with PF. Nevertheless, the impact of different sessions of electroacupuncture on PF has not been investigated through randomized, controlled trials. This is a two parallel-group, assessor-blinded, randomized controlled trial, consisting of a four-week treatment phase followed by a 12-week follow-up. Eighty patients with chronic PF will be recruited and randomly allocated to receive 12 (three sessions per week; the multiple electroacupuncture weekly treatment group (group M)) or four (one session per week; single electroacupuncture weekly treatment group (group S)) sessions of electroacupuncture treatment in a 1:1 ratio. The primary outcome to be studied is the response rate, defined as a minimum of 50 % improvement in most severe pain intensity with first steps in the morning, compared with baseline. We will perform all analyses based on the intention-to-treat principle, with differences considered significant when the P value