From the Guidelines

Corticosteroid injections are a treatment option for plantar fasciitis.

Corticosteroid injections can be considered for the management of plantar fasciitis, as they have been shown to be effective in reducing inflammation and pain in other musculoskeletal sites, such as sacroiliitis 1.
However, it is essential to note that there are no clinical studies evaluating the efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroid on peripheral arthritis or the use of local corticosteroid injections for the enthesitis of AS, including plantar fasciitis.
The expert group suggests that local corticosteroid injections can be helpful in selected cases, but potential toxicity, including tendon rupture, must be considered 1.
Other treatment options, such as physical therapy, orthotics, and pain management, may also be effective in managing plantar fasciitis, although they are not mentioned in this specific study.

From the Research

The treatment options for plantar fasciitis can be categorized into conservative and surgical methods.

Conservative management includes:
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) which has been shown to be effective in reducing pain and improving function 2
- Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which have been found to outperform ESWT in some studies 2
- Custom orthotics, which can improve function and reduce pain 2
- Stretching exercises, which have been recommended as a first-line treatment 3, 4
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ice massage, which can help reduce pain and inflammation 4
- Corticosteroid injections, which can provide short-term relief when combined with controlled training 5
Surgical options, such as endoscopic fasciotomy, may be considered for recalcitrant cases 4

Studies have compared the effectiveness of different treatment options for plantar fasciitis.

A meta-analysis found that ESWT was effective in reducing pain and improving function, but PRP injections and custom orthotics may be more effective in some cases 2
A review of treatments found that stretching exercises and plantar insoles had limited evidence of benefit, while corticosteroid injections and iontophoresis had some evidence of benefit, although it was limited and short-term 3
A randomized controlled trial found that the combination of corticosteroid injections and controlled training (strength training and stretching) was superior to each treatment alone 5

Based on the available evidence, the following recommendations can be made:

Conservative management, including stretching exercises, NSAIDs, and ice massage, should be the first line of treatment 4
ESWT, PRP injections, and custom orthotics may be considered for patients who do not respond to conservative management 2
Corticosteroid injections combined with controlled training may be recommended as a first-line treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis 5