Randomized multicenter follow-up trial on the effect of radiotherapy on painful heel spur (plantar fasciitis) comparing two fractionation schedules with uniform total dose: first results after three months’ follow-up

Table 3 Comparison of pain/quality of life data 12 weeks after radiation therapy to those before radiation therapy

Item	Value	Standard dose group difference (n = 54)	Experimental dose group difference (n = 53)	p
VAS (12)-VAS(0)	Mean	−42.3	−44.4
	SD	27.4	22.8
	Minimum	−90	−90
	Maximum	20	0
	p			0.778
CS(12)-CS(0)	Mean	28.0	28.4
	S.D.	21.9	20.5
	Minimum	−16	−22
	Maximum	68	65
	p			0.779
SF12, somatic, doctor (12)-(0)	Mean	8.8	10.4
	SD	11.8	11.2
	Minimum	−16	−27
	Maximum	40	34
	p			0.321
SF12, psychic, doctor (12)-(0)	Mean	−0.6	- 0.3
	SD	10.9	8.1
	Minimum	−29	−20
	Maximum	17	25
	p			0.662
SF12, somatic, patient (12)-(0)	Mean	8.2	8.5
	SD	11.2	10.8
	Minimum	−16	−27
	Maximum	40	36
	p			0.559
SF12, psychic, patient (12)-(0)	Mean	0.5	1.2
	S.D.	10.5	7.9
	Minimum	−27	−21
	Maximum	18	17	0.952
	p

VAS(0), CS(0), SF12(0): values before start of radiation therapy
VAS(12), CS(12), SF12(12): values after 12 weeks’ follow-up
VAS scale: linear scale, 0 = no pain, 100 = maximum imaginable pain, improvement = negative difference, worsening = positive difference
CS scale: linear scale based on criteria like pain, use of aids, problems at work, in daily life, and performing sports, gait: 0 = maximum pain and disability, 100 = complete freedom from symptoms; improvement = positive difference, worsening = negative difference
SF12 scales: complex scales using 12 items on quality of life; high values = favorable quality of life; improvement = positive difference, worsening = negative difference
SD standard deviation

ISSN: 1748-717X