| Konjen et al., (2015) | 2 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 6 sessions | Pain (VAS): both improved; rESWT > US (p<0.001). Function (PFPS mobility): rESWT better (p<0.001). Satisfaction: 80% vs 33% (p=0.025). |
| Rompe et al. (2015) | 4 bar | 8 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | At 2-4 mos: rESWT+stretching > rESWT alone for FFI and satisfaction (p<0.001). At 24 mos: no between-group difference. |
| Eslamian et al. (2016) | 0.2 mJ/mm2 | 2 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 5 sessions | Both groups improved (VAS/FFI, p<0.001). Between-group difference not significant (FFI at 8 w, p=0.072); ESWT showed higher satisfaction/success trend. |
| Hocaoglu et al. (2017) | 0.16 mJ/mm2 | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Pain: steroid showed faster early relief, but rESWT effects were more sustained to 6 mos; plantar fascia thickness decreased in both groups. |
| Ibrahim et al. (2017) | 3.5 bar | 8 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 2 sessions | rESWT > placebo for pain and Roles & Maudsley score across follow-ups (p<0.001); benefits maintained at 24 mos. |
| Ulusoy et al. (2017) | 2.5 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | All groups improved (VAS/AOFAS/HTI, p<0.001). LLLT and ESWT were similar; both outperformed ultrasound for function and response rates. |
| Yin et al.(2017) | 0.2, 0.4, 0.6 (respectively) mJ/mm2 | 8 Hz | 2,400 impulses | 3 sessions | Success rate: 66.9%. Predictors of response included baseline VAS, edema, and heel spur; model accuracy 89.6%. |
| Uğurlar et al. (2018) | 4 bar | 6 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Pain: CSI best short-term (1 mos), ESWT best mid-term (3-6 mos). At 36 mos, no differences among treatments (effects not sustained). |
| Morral Fernández et al. (2019) | 2.0 bar | 8 Hz | 2,500 impulses | 3 sessions | Device appearance had no effect. All groups improved over time; no between-group differences in VAS, FFI, or plantar fascia thickness. |
| Asheghan et al. (2021) | 2 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Pain (VAS): both improved with no between-group difference. Function: ESWT improved FAAM-Sport more than prolotherapy (p=0.038). |
| Mohammed et al. (2022) | 0.2 mJ/mm2 | 2 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 6 sessions | Early follow-up showed no clear between-group difference; at 6 mos, the comparator (steroid injection) showed greater pain reduction (p<0.05). |
| Wheeler et al. (2022) | 2.4 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Dose comparison: no between-group differences at any time point. Both groups improved; no superiority of the 'recommended' vs 'minimal' protocol. |
| Moneim et al. (2023) | 2.5 bar | 10.0 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 4 sessions | Both groups improved; ESWT produced greater pain reduction at 12 wks (p=0.004). Thickness decreased in both; CSI+TUS reduced thickness more at 4 wks, but not at 12 wks. |
| Orhan et al. (2023) | 3 bar | 6 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 4 sessions | 6 wks: CSI provided the greatest early pain relief. 3-6 mos: ESWT showed superior longer-term improvement (pain and AOFAS) compared with CSI/KT. |
| On & Yim (2023) | 3 bar | 9 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 10 sessions | Both improved. Adding local vibration to ESWT improved pain (NRS) and plantar fascia thickness more than ESWT alone (p<0.05); FFI not different. |
| RIAZ et al.(2023) | 1.4 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 2 sessions | All groups improved over time; between-group differences for pain/function were not statistically significant at follow-up. |
| Pabón-Carrasco et al. (2024) | 0.20 mJ/mm2 | 5 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Early: rESWT had lower pain at 3 wks (p≤0.0001). By 5 wks, both groups reached pain remission. rESWT showed greater fascia-thickness reduction and higher PGIC/EQ-5D. |
| Wang et al.(2024) | 2.0 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 3 sessions | Both improved (p<0.001). rESWT+Trps showed greater NRS reduction and heel temperature decrease at 12 wks. |
| Ines et al.(2025) | 2.0 bar | 10 Hz | 2,000 impulses | 2 sessions | Both groups improved; no between-group differences in VAS or FFI. ESWT showed greater heel temperature reduction; success rate difference was not significant. |