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Completed

NCT Number: NCT06456944

Effect of Selected Rehabilitation Program in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

This study will be done to investigate the effect of the selected rehabilitation program for PF on plantar fascia thickness, clinical outcomes such as pain, foot function, dorsiflexion ROM and pressure pain threshold and alignment such as rearfoot eversion angle and foot posture index in patients with PF.

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Key information

Conditions

Plantar Fascitis Fasciitis Fasciitis, Plantar Foot Diseases Heel Pain Syndrome Musculoskeletal Diseases Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic

Age range

40 year–60 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Outpatient clinic, Faculty of Physical Therapy, Horus University, Egypt, Damietta, Egypt

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About this study

Plantar fasciitis (PF), which constitutes approximately 15% of all foot disorders, is the most prevalent cause of heel pain. It is a long-term degenerative process that is impacted by subtalar pronation and pes planus. One million US patients saw primary care physicians with PF between 1995 and 2000. There is not enough data to determine the best physical therapy management techniques for individuals with heel pain, despite the existence of multiple successful treatment approaches. this study investigated at how a mechanically based rehabilitation program affected patients with PF in terms of foot alignment, plantar fascia thickness, pain, pressure pain threshold, ROM and foot function. The approach included strengthening the plantar intrinsic muscles of the foot, plantar fascia specific stretching and Achilles tendon stretching, and passively correcting the pathomechanics of the foot by low dye tapping and high load resistance exercise for Achilles tendon and windlass mechanism

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Plantar medial heel pain: most noticeable with initial steps after a period of inactivity, but also worse following prolonged weight-bearing
  • Pain with palpation of the proximal insertion of the plantar fascia
  • Positive windlass test
  • flat foot posture utilizing the foot posture index
  • age range from 40 to 60 years

Exclusion criteria

  • tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • atrophy of the fat pad.
  • diabetic patients or patients with rheumatoid arthritis
  • corticosteroid injection over the last sex months

Treatment and study plan

Stretching exercises

Other

stretching exercises of the plantar fascia, gastrocnemius and soleus

Ultrasound

Device

therapeutic ultrasound upon the most painful point on the medial calcaneal tubercle. The parameters involved a pulsed mode (duty cycle 50%) using an intensity of 1.5 W/cm2 and a 1 MHz of frequency for 5 minutes

Rigid Tape

Other

low-dye tapping will be done to provide mechanical correction to plantar fascia and medial longitudinal arch

Mobilization

Other

mobilization techniques for the talocrural joint in weight bearing and non-bearing positions and subtalar joint

Myofascial Release

Other

deep tissue release of the plantar fascia and flexor hallucis longus in a stretched position of the plantar fascia

Strengthening exercise

Other

strengthening exercise of the plantar intrinsic muscles using short foot exercise and strengthening of the Achilles tendon and windlass mechanism using unilateral heel raise exercises

Primary outcomes

  1. Assessing the change in pain intensity

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    VAS is typically composed of a 100 mm horizontal line attached to two opposed labels, the left end marked "no pain" and the right end marked "worst possible pain. Patients were marked a score on the scale by a vertical line that exactly refer to their pain

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assessing the change in foot posture

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    using the foot posture index. It is a clinical measure of foot posture, either supinated or pronated, using 6 items for assessment of foot and scoring of each item from -2 to +2

  2. Assessing the change in foot function

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    The Arabic version of the foot function index (FFI) is a widely used self-reporting measure used to assess the impact of foot pathology on pain, disability, and activity limitation. It is a reliable and sensitive outcome measure for patients with foot and ankle disorders. The FFI's subscale scores range from 0% to 100%, with higher scores indicating lower function and a poorer quality of life.

  3. Assessing the change in plantar fascia thickness

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    using the ultrasound, participants were positioned in a prone position with relaxed arms and legs, and measurements were taken with the ankle joint in neutral or slightly dorsi-flexion. Electro-conductive gel was applied to the US transducer and plantar surface of foot before imaging. The transducer was placed longitudinally on the calcaneus surface to obtain a clear image of the plantar fascia.

  4. Assessing the change in rear foot angle

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    using kinovea motion analysis software, the rearfoot (calcaneus) angle is measured as the angle between the bisection of the lower one-third of the leg and the bisection of the calcaneus. The MLA is classified as: normal arch 2-8°, low arch ≥ 8.1° and high arch ≤ 1.9.

  5. Assessing the change in range of motion

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    The bubble inclinometer is used to measure the angle of the tibia relative to the floor during active ankle dorsiflexion, while the patient lunges forward with their heel on the ground and knee in line with the second toe.

  6. Assessing the change in pressure pain threshold

    Time frame: At baseline and following 8 weeks

    the pressure algometer is utilized to measure the pressure pain threshold (PPT), The patient lay supine, in a relaxed position, with his feet hanging over the edge of the bed with no pressure on the heel. PPT is measured by laying the patient supine with feet hanging over the bed, without pressure on the heel. PPT is determined by applying pressure to the skin until the patient experiences pain.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Horus University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Effect of Selected Rehabilitation Program on Pain, Function, and Plantar Fascia Thickness in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2025
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jun 13, 2024
Registry last updated
Jul 22, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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