The purpose of this study is to analyse the trends manifested in research literature from the field of healthcare management, with emphasis on bibliometric features and different influencing factors. For this, a search was conducted of nine academic databases between January and May 2021. Article features were registered in our database after first applying the validation criteria used for their inclusion. Then, data regarding the publication of the included articles were collected. The analysis focused on trends over time, topic, and journals in which they were published. Moreover, the effect of some factors on the citation of articles was analysed. Our results showed that the 250 analysed articles were published in 139 journals, and many of were by researchers affiliated with universities in the United States. Over time, the publication of analysed articles and their number of citations registered a continuous increase. The most common topics of focus were healthcare management systems and their challenges. In our study, we identified factors that significantly affect citation number, such as number of years since publication, the number of words in the title, and the number of authors of an article. In addition, major gaps were identified, as were new unresolved challenges that can trigger new research ideas.

The abnormal proliferation of the fibrous tissue in the plantar fascia, Morbus Ledderhose is a non-malignant thickening of the deep connective tissue of the foot, a relatively rare pa-thology that intensely affects patients through marked pain and functional impotence. Re-habilitation treatments are poorly presented in the literature. To apply a non-invasive physiotherapeutic treatment which leads to consistent results in reducing pain, reducing the size of nodules or even their disappearance, the functional resumption of the foot, an increase in the life quality of affected patients. In the study, pa-tients were divided into 2 groups: G1 received treatment consisting of shockwave therapy complemented with SIS therapy, G2 received treatment consisting of ultrasound, laser therapy, kinesiotherapy, massage, excluding the application of shockwave therapy and SIS. Some of the patients associate comorbidities such as type II diabetes, Dupuytren’s disease or, more rarely, with Peyronie’s disease (penile fibromatosis). Important positive results have been obtained: a considerable decrease in the pain level of patients, the dissi-pation of consistency and decrease in the size of plantar nodules, an increase in the life quality of the patients with the resumption of productive activities. The treat-ment with shock waves and super inductive system has an increased efficiency both folowing the first cure and after various consecutive cures applied consistently at 6 months or maybe even faster, at 4-5 months, if necessary, if the pathology advances faster by intensifying fibrosis.