Table 4 Types of interventions, treatment regime and outcome measures

Tillu and

Gupta

(1998)

25 mm acupuncture needle (diameter

unknown) inserted for 15 minutes and

stimulated every 5 minutes for 5 sec.

Needle was manipulated to produce

de qi. No control group.

(i) Acupuncture points KI.3;

BL.60 and SP.6

(ii) Gastrocnemius MTrP and heel

MTrP. Specific location of MTrP in

the heel and calf not identified.

(i) Visual analogue scale

(ii) Verbal pain score

Outcome measures recorded

at 4 and 6 weeks post

baseline.

4 sessions of acupuncture/1 per

week. If symptoms were not

resolved after this period,

2 sessions (1 per week) of

acupuncture and dry

needling were implemented.

Imamura et al.

(1998)

22-25 gauge needle repetitively inserted

and withdrawn with injection of 1%

lidocaine into the MTrP; plus *standard

therapy. Control group received

conventional conservative therapy but

not outlined in the methods.

Medial head of Gastrocnemius;

Soleus; Tibialis posterior;

Popliteus; Abductor hallucis;

Peroneus Longus and Flexor

digitorum brevis

(i) Duration of treatment

(ii) Visual analogue scale

(iii) Pressure pain threshold

Outcome measures recorded

at discharge, 6 and 24 months

The number of sessions and

times per week varied

between the groups

Perez-Millan

and Foster

(2001)

10-120 mm acupuncture needle

(0.20-0.25 mm diameter); plus

electrostimulator (2-4 Hz)

for 20-30 minutes. No control

group.

(i) Acupuncture points KI.1, 3, 6;

BL.60, 67; GB 44

(ii) MTrPs points in the heel and arch

regions

(i) Visual analogue scale

(ii) **Foot function index

questionnaire

Outcome measures recorded

at 6 weeks post baseline

6 sessions/1 per week