Can a little radiation put the spring back in the step of those with plantar fasciitis refractory to stretching, orthotics, physiotherapy, injections, and even extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ie., delivery of mechanical pressure waves through the skin to the painful plantar fascia insertion)? A Spanish single-center longitudinal study followed 68 patients with MRI-confirmed, chronic refractory plantar fasciitis receiving low-dose radiotherapy 3 Gy in 6 fractions of 0.5 Gy delivered twice weekly. Pain, function, and quality of life improved rapidly and durably: at 6 months 96% met the predefined pain-response criterion and 99% achieved a clinically meaningful improvement in the validate Foot Function Index yielding a 96% global clinical response rate. Benefits persisted through 24 months. | Novo-Rigueiro, Clin Transl Rad Oncol 2026
