Functional Strength Training and Kinesiotaping, With and Without Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation in Fibular (Peroneal) Neuropathy

Fibular neuropathy frequently manifests as foot drop, muscle weakness, altered gait, and sensory loss, all of which severely reduce mobility and quality of life. There is still uncertainty regarding the efficacy of kinesio taping (KT), proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), and functional strength training (FST) in combination. Although PNF improves neuromuscular coordination, KT provides proprioceptive input, and FST increases strength and mobility, there are no set treatment guidelines and little research has compared these modalities. In order to contribute to evidence-based rehabilitation techniques for people with fibular neuropathy, this study attempts to assess whether adding PNF to FST and KT improves functional outcomes compared to FST and KT alone.

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Key information

Conditions

Peroneal Neuropathy Mononeuropathies Nervous System Diseases Neuromuscular Diseases Peripheral Nervous System Diseases Peroneal Neuropathies

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

UIPT, UOL, Lahore

Lahore, Pakistan

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

• Adults (18-35 years old) are diagnosed with fibular neuropathy due to trauma or compression.

Patients with muscle weakness, impaired balance and abnormal gait.
Both Male and female participants will be included.
Patients who test positive to the drag or slap test will be considered positive if the patient have difficulty in lifting the forefoot while walking, leading to dragging of the toes or compensatory hip/knee movements.

Exclusion criteria

• Recent foot or ankle surgery (<6 months).

Complete loss of nerve supply
Severe musculoskeletal or neurological conditions (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, myopathies, severe osteoarthritis, severe compression, progressive neuropathies, severe balance and fall risk, Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) and peripheral vascular diseases).
Allergies to Kinesio tape materials.
Patients who are not psychologically fit such as those who have undergone trauma and patients with severe psychological disorders (major depressive disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia) will be excluded if they have had a diagnosis within the last 6 months.

Treatment and study plan

Functional Strength Training, Kinesio Taping, and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation

Behavioral

Participants will undergo 8 weeks of supervised treatment, 3 sessions per week (24 sessions). Each session includes a warm-up with stretches, range-of-motion exercises, and Functional Strength Training (mini hops, stair climbing, ramp walking, sit-to-stand). Kinesio Taping will be applied from the foot's dorsum along the tibialis anterior and peroneus longus with 25-50% stretch for ankle support and dorsiflexor facilitation, re-applied every 3-4 days. In addition, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) lower-limb D1 flexion/extension patterns with manual resistance will be performed in 3 sets of 5 repetitions, lasting 35-40 minutes per session.

Functional Strength Training and Kinesio Taping

Behavioral

Primary outcomes

Change in dorsiflexor muscle strength measured by Manual Muscle Grading (MMG)

Time frame: Baseline (Week 0), Mid-point (Week 4), and Post-intervention (Week 8)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Lahore

Other

Registry information

Official study title

"Functional Strength Training and Kinesiotaping With and Without Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation Technique in Fibular (Peroneal) Neuropathy"

Important dates

Study start: 2025
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Sep 24, 2025
Registry last updated: Mar 5, 2026

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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed