Comparative Effects of Deep Transverse Friction Massage and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques on Pain Intensity, Disability and Functional Capacity in Plantar Fasciitis.

This randomized clinical trial will be conducted at Ghurki Trust and Teaching Hospital and Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. The study will target pregnant females aged 18 to 40 years who are clinically diagnosed with plantar fasciitis using the Windlass test. Exclusion criteria include a history of ankle or foot fracture or surgery within the past six months, as well as any neurological deficits. A total of 52 participants will be recruited using the non-probability convenience sampling technique and randomly assigned into two equal groups. Participants in both groups will receive the same baseline treatment. Group A will receive Deep Transverse Friction Massage (DTFM), while Group B will receive Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Techniques (IASTMT). The study aims to compare the effectiveness of these two manual therapy techniques on pain intensity, disability, and functional capacity. The Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) will be used to assess pain levels. Disability will be evaluated using the Foot Function Index (FFI), and the 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) will be employed to measure functional capacity. Data collected from participants will be entered and statistically analyzed using SPSS version 21 to determine the comparative effectiveness of the two treatment approaches in managing plantar fasciitis during pregnancy.