Effect of Tibial nerve neural mobilization versus Plantar fascia stretching on Pain, Ankle mobility and Function in individuals with Plantar fasciitis: A Randomized Controlled Trial

The study is a randomized controlled trial comparing two conservative physiotherapy approaches for individuals with plantar fasciitis, consisting of an intervention group and a control group. Participants aged 30–50 years with clinically diagnosed plantar heel pain of at least four weeks’ duration, pain localized to the medial plantar heel region, positive Windlass test, and willingness to participate are included. Individuals with a history of heel or foot surgery, calcaneal or talar fractures, tarsal tunnel syndrome, systemic neuropathies, inflammatory arthropathies, severe vascular disease, pregnancy, or contraindications to manual therapy are excluded.

Participants are randomly allocated into two groups. The intervention group (Group A) receives tibial nerve neural mobilization, performed in a supine position with the hip flexed 30–45 degrees and the knee extended. Ankle dorsiflexion combined with eversion is used as a sensitizing movement, and a rhythmic slider technique is applied in three sets of ten repetitions per session. The control group (Group B) receives plantar fascia stretching, administered in a sitting position by passively dorsiflexing the hallux to tension the plantar fascia. Each stretch is held for 30 seconds and repeated five times per session. Both groups receive treatment for 15–20 minutes per session, three sessions per week for three weeks.

Outcome measures are assessed before and after the intervention period and include pain intensity using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), ankle range of motion measured with a universal goniometer, and functional performance evaluated using the Plantar Fasciitis Pain/Disability Scale, which assesses pain, disability, and activity limitation specific to plantar fasciitis