Effect of Kinesio Taping and Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy on Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a common disease in athletes and the sedentary population, accompanied by pain and limitation of foot function. Hot-cold tampon application, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, heel cushion, night splint, plantar fascia and Achilles stretching exercise, kinesio taping (CT), ultrasound, and extracorporeal shock wave therapy are the methods used in the treatment of plantar fasciitis. The aim of this study is to compare the acute effect on pain level, lower extremity functionality and plantar fascia flexibility in patients with plantar fasciitis receiving ESWT, patients with plantar fasciitis receiving Kinesiotape in addition to ESWT, and patients with plantar fasciitis receiving placebo ESWT.

Age (years), height (cm) and body weight (kg) measured with an adult scale with a mechanical height measure, gender, occupation, affected side and dominant side of patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis will be recorded.

Patients will be divided into three groups: ESWT (Group 1), ESWT and KT (Group 2), and Placebo/Sham (Group 3) application groups. ESWT (BTL-6000SWT, UK); A single session will be applied at 10 Hz frequency, 2.5 Barr energy and 2000 shocks/session.

For KT application, a tape consisting of 96% cotton, 4% lycra, water-resistant, porous and adhesive, 5 cm wide and 0.5 mm thick will be used. Taping will be done after the ESWT session and the tape will be asked to remain for a week. After the first examination of the physical therapy and rehabilitation specialist physician in the placebo/Sham group, the patient will be listened to the sound of the device through the audio device and ESWT application will be applied without the device working.

For clinical follow-up of the patients, visual pain scale (VAS) score, lower extremity functional scale score will be used before and one week after treatment, and plantar fascia flexibility will be evaluated.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult cases aged 18-65 years diagnosed with plantar fasciitis by a physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist,
• Cases willing to continue the study,
• In the anamnesis, cases with severe pain when taking the first step after waking up in the morning or after a long period of inactivity and progressive aggravation of the pain as the activity continues,
• Cases whose consent forms were obtained by being informed about the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Cases who have undergone foot and ankle surgery,
• Loss or decrease of sensation in the foot and ankle region for various reasons,
• Difficulty in communication that prevents treatment and evaluations from being carried out effectively,
• Pregnancy,
• Presence of local infection,
• Having a widespread or regional tumoral disease,
• Having circulatory disorders in the lower extremities, bleeding,
• Anticoagulant use,
• Application of other treatment methods such as cold/hot application, exercise, orthosis use, electrotherapy agents,
• Cases with a history of systemic, inflammatory, neurological or vascular disease.