Gastrocnemius Stretching on Plantar Heel Pain, Foot Mobility and Function in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

Not Applicable

Recruiting

• Conditions: Plantar Fascitis
• Interventions: Other: Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises; Other: Standard care

• Registration Number: NCT05920551
• Lead Sponsor: Ahram Canadian University

Brief Summary

The study aims to investigate the effectiveness of gastrocnemius stretching exercises on plantar heel pain intensity, foot mobility, and function in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Detailed Description

This randomized controlled trial will include patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Participants will be randomly assigned to either a study group performing gastrocnemius stretches or a control group. Both groups will receive ultrasound therapy and fascia strengthening exercises. The study group will additionally perform specific gastrocnemius stretching exercises. Outcome measures will be assessed before and after 4 weeks of intervention and will include pain intensity, foot mobility using an inversion/eversion device, and function using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure. The study hypothesizes that the study group will demonstrate greater improvements in pain, foot mobility, and function compared to the control group. The study findings could guide physical therapy interventions for patients with plantar fasciitis.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2023-06
• Study First Submitted: 2023-06-17
• Study First Submitted QC: 2023-06-17
• Last Update Submitted: 2023-06-17
• Study First Posted: 2023-06-27
• Last Update Posted: 2023-06-27
• Study Start: 2023-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-02-01
• Study Completion: 2024-02-01

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

1. Pain reproduced with palpation of the plantar fascia
2. localized and sharp but not radiating
3. worse in the initial step after and an extended period of rest
4. decreased initially after the first steps but exacerbated with increased activityat least 6 weeks
5. unresponsive conservative form of plantar fasciitis care (ie, rest, stretching, full-length silicone insole, prescription NSAIDs when taken for a period of 2 weeks)

Exclusion Criteria

1. history of previous steroid injections
2. previous surgery of the foot, lumbar spine disc herniation or back injury
3. patients with rheumatic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthropathy, gout disease, enthesopathy, Sjogren's syndrome, and systemic lupus erythematosus)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Gastrocnemius Stretching Group	Standard care	Patients will receive ultrasound therapy, fascia strengthening exercises, and gastrocnemius stretching exercises.
Control Group	Standard care	Patients will receive ultrasound therapy and fascia strengthening exercises without gastrocnemius stretching exercises.
Gastrocnemius Stretching Group	Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises	Patients will receive ultrasound therapy, fascia strengthening exercises, and gastrocnemius stretching exercises.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Plantar heel pain intensity	Changes in Plantar heel pain intensity at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months	Measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in Foot mobility	Changes in foot mobility at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months	Measured using an inversion/eversion device
Changes in Foot function	Changes in foot function at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months	Measured using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Ahram Canadian University; 🇪🇬 Al Ḩayy Ath Thāmin, Giza, Egypt