Study of Low Level Laser Light Therapy to Improve Blood Circulation in People With Chronic Heel Pain

The purpose of this study is to determine whether low level laser light therapy is effective in increasing local blood circulation in people with chronic heel pain arising from plantar fasciitis.

Healthy blood circulation is important to overall health and well-being, as strong and steady local blood flow delivers fresh nutrients to the cells and prevents accumulation of waste materials within the cells necessary to maintain healthy cell function. Conversely, poor local blood circulation can cause numerous acute and chronic health problems, and can manifest itself in symptoms of pain, numbness, weakness and swelling, and can exacerbate these symptoms in co-existing acute and chronic conditions. Chronic conditions that may result from poor blood circulation that is untreated and persists over a long period of time include varicose veins, kidney damage, stroke and heart attack. Memory loss, frequent headaches, dizzy spells and slowed mental response can also result.

Therefore, improving local blood circulation has significant positive implications for both the overall health and well-being of an individual and for improving, relieving and preventing symptoms and long-term complications of poor blood circulation. Treatment to improve blood circulation include simple options such as changes in dietary and exercise habits, and alternative treatments such as acupuncture and herbal remedies. Medications may be prescribed to assist with contributory conditions such as high blood pressure or cholesterol. In more progressed cases, surgical options such as angioplasty or bypass may be performed to treat narrowed or blocked arteries.

However, less invasive options are usually minimally effective, medication has its own risks and side-effects and surgical procedures are invasive and carry significant procedural risks and potential complications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of low level laser therapy as a means of increasing local blood circulation as it is related to reducing chronic heel pain arising from plantar fasciitis that is simple, non-invasive and risk-free.

Low level laser therapy is believed to effect various physiological mechanisms of change that include improved blood flow and increased cell metabolism, advanced healing, anti-inflammatory actions and stimulation of the immune system. The laser directs light energy into the body's cells. The cells then convert this light energy into chemical energy to promote natural healing and pain relief. The laser also allows photons to enter the tissue and become absorbed in the cells mitochondria within which the photonic energy is converted to electromagnetic energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). This additional ATP is energy the cell uses to trigger positive physiological responses from the body such as increased cell metabolism and development of muscle tissue and collagen, improvement of blood circulation, stimulation of tissue repair, wound healing and stimulation of the nervous and immune systems.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Unilateral Mechanical Plantar Heel Pain: insertional heel pain of the plantar fascia - plantar fasciitis - in one heel
* Chronic heel pain defined as at least 3 months of ongoing heel pain with no evidence of acute trauma to the heel
* A self-rating on the 0-100 Visual Analog Scale of at least 50 for heel pain experienced upon taking the first few steps of the study qualification evaluation day (recorded retrospectively), to be confirmed by the two-day average VAS attained during the Baseline Washout phase.
* Heel pain has been previously unresponsive to prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) taken over a minimum period of 2 weeks; and any two or more of the following conservative treatments: rest, taping, stretching, orthotics, shoe modifications, night splinting, casting, physical therapy, or local corticosteroid injections.
* Subject is willing and able to refrain from consuming over-the-counter and/or prescription medications for the indication of the relief of pain throughout the study.
* Subject is willing and able to refrain from partaking in other non-study treatments or therapies for the relief of heel pain throughout the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Subject does not have any one or more of the following etiologies of chronic heel pain: Mechanical Posterior Heel Pain; Neurologic Heel Pain; Arthritic Heel Pain; and Traumatic Heel Pain
* Evidence of acute trauma to the heel
* Loss of plantar foot sensation
* Foot deformity
* Previous surgery to the heel
* Foot trauma within the previous three months
* Skin ulceration - infection or wound - on the heel and surrounding treatment area
* Sciatica
* Benign and malignant tumors
* Acute infection of soft tissue/bone, e.g. osteomyelitis
* Presence of diabetic neuropathic pain
* Diabetes Type I
* Presence of sensory neuropathy
* Previous diagnosis of neuropathy affecting lower extremities
* Peripheral vascular disease or autoimmune disease
* Fibromyalgia
* Chronic fatigue syndrome
* Chronic pain disorders
* Metabolic disorders: Osteomalacia, Paget's disease, Sickle cell disease
* Blood coagulation disorders
* Significant heart conditions including Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and implantable heart devices
* Non-ambulatory status
* Unable or unwilling to consume the study rescue medication of Tylenol
* Photosensitivity disorder
* Pregnant or lactating
* Serious mental health illness such as dementia or schizophrenia; psychiatric hospitalization in past two years
* Developmental disability or cognitive impairment that would preclude adequate comprehension of the consent form and ability to record the necessary measurements.
* History of drug or alcohol abuse
* Involvement in litigation and/or a worker's compensation claim and/or receiving disability benefits related to the study condition
* Participation in any type of research in the past 30 days