This systematic review of 96 reviews establishes that ultrasound remains the gold standard for diagnosis, specifically when the plantar fascia measures thicker than 4.0 mm.
Regarding treatment, corticosteroids are effective for short-term pain relief but fail to provide lasting benefits. In contrast, both Platelet-Rich Plasma (RP) and Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) demonstrated superior long-term outcomes compared to corticosteroids. However, there are currently limited head-to-head comparisons to determine whether PRP or shockwave therapy is the more effective long-term option.
