The “Bodily Pain” Scale of the Short Form-36 Questionnaire is a Predictor of Outcome in Patients who Receive Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injection for Plantar Fasciitis—A Preliminary Study

Objectives: Ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection is an effective treatment for plantar fasciitis. We aimed to examine whether the eight scales of the Short Form-36 [SF-36] quality of life questionnaire could predict outcome of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection for plantar fasciitis.Methods: Sixteen patients [mean age 55.7 years] with unilateral plantar fasciitis received ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections and all evaluations. The SF-36 questionnaire was administered and tenderness threshold [TT] was measured before injection, at 3 weeks, and at 3 months post-injection. Differences in the eight SF-36 scales among the three time points were examined. Furthermore, baseline measurements and changes in the SF-36 scales were examined for their association with changes in TT at 3 weeks and 3 months post-injection.Results: The scale “bodily pain” [BP] decreased significantly after injection [baseline versus 3 months post-injection: 46.25 ± 11.73 versus 63.06 ± 18.26; p = 0.036]. Baseline BP correlated with change in TT at 3 weeks [r = −0.554, p = 0.026]. The change in BP correlated with change in TT at 3 weeks [r = 0.594, p = 0.015] and at 3 months [r = 0.536, p = 0.032].Conclusion: The BP scale can be used to predict the outcome of ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injection for plantar fasciitis. Less initial bodily pain leads to less improvement in objective inferior heel tenderness.