Effects of Kinesiotape versus Low-Dye Tape on Pain and Comfort Measures in Patients with Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

BACKGROUND: Bandages are commonly used to relieve pain in patients with plantar fasciitis. The goal was to compare the effects of using kinesiotape versus low-dye tape in the acute phase of plantar fasciitis on pain and comfort measures. METHODS: Forty individuals with plantar fasciitis were allocated to the kinesiotape or low-dye tape interventions. The patients were assessed at baseline and every 24 h until the fifth day. The primary measure was a visual analog scale of pain. The other measures were comfort, mobility, durability, personal hygiene, sweating, and allergies. The effects were compared with an ANOVA test, 95% CI. RESULTS: Kinesiotape was more effective in reducing pain; the greater effect occurred during the first day, with a between-group difference of 2.0 (95% CI: 1.8 to 2.2). The pain differences between the treatments progressively reduced each day from the second day. Kinesiotape offered significantly higher performance than low-dye tape in mobility, comfort, and comfort in hygiene, sweating, and durability, with a large effect size d > 0.8. CONCLUSIONS: Kinesiotape could be more effective than low-dye tape in relieving pain in patients with plantar fasciitis, with a significant clinical impact on the first day of treatment. Kinesiotape can also provide higher performance in terms of comfort.

Hospitalisation Cost of Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers in Valencia (Spain) in the Period 2009⁻2013: A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis.

Ulcers are the main cause of hospitalisation and clinical complications in patients with diabetes. We analyse the length and cost of hospital stay of patients with diabetic foot ulcers, taking into consideration that hospitalisation and, if necessary, amputation represent the greatest area of expense to the healthcare system for such patients. This analysis focuses on the treatment provided to these patients in public hospitals in the region of Valencia (Spain), registered in the Spanish Minimum Basic Data Set, during the period 2009⁻2013. The number of acute hospital admissions in this respect is increasing and has a high socioeconomic cost. During the study period, there were over 2700 hospital admissions, an average of nearly 550 per year. The total hospital stay for these patients was 30,886 days, with an average of 11.4 days and a cost of €7633 per admission. Preventive policies and the deployment of multidisciplinary teams are essential to reduce these costs and avoid future complications such as amputation.

Evidencias científicas acerca de la educación del paciente diabético como prevención de úlceras en los pies / No disponible

En este artículo se realiza una búsqueda de la mejor evidencia disponible sobre la educación del paciente diabético para la prevención de úlceras en los pies. Siguiendo las diferentes fases de la podología basada en la evidencia se seleccionan tres estudios para ser evaluados críticamente. Aunque los resultados no han sido suficientemente significativos parece que la educación en los pacientes más graves y pacientes con neuropatía periférica podría resultar más efectiva. Por el contrario, otras medidas educacionales no obtuvieron diferencias concluyentes en comparación con la atención convencional. Ante la falta de evidencias debemos ser cautos en la aplicación de las medidas educacionales de forma generalizada, son necesarios más ensayos controlados aleatorios (ECAs), con una buena calidad metodológica, para esclarecer los resultados existentes(AU)

In this article we aim to achieve the best available evidence on the diabetic patient education as a prevention of feet ulcers. Three studies are selected to be evaluated through Podiatry Based on Evidence. Although the results have not been significant enough, it seems that educating patients with severe conditions and peripheric neuropathy could be more efficient. On the other hand, the other educational measures didn’t get convincing results as compared to those resulting from the conventional care. Due to the lack of evidence, we should be prudent when applying educational measures in a greater scope. In order to clarify the existing results, more randomised controlled trials with a good methodological quality are a must(AU)