Comparison of Treatment Efficacy of Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT) and Myofascial Release Techniques in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis

Istanbul Rumeli University

Status: Invitation-only

Conditions: Plantar Fasciitis

Treatments: Other: Placebo Control; Other: myofascial release technique; Device: extracorporeal shockwave therapy

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07204210

IRU-FTR-BY-01

Details and patient eligibility

About

Various treatment methods are employed for patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. However, many of these approaches involve high-cost interventions, such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) applications. The present study aims to compare the treatment effectiveness of myofascial release-considered a cost-effective intervention-with ESWT, which is among the most commonly preferred treatment modalities.

Full description

The present study aims to compare the effectiveness of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), a frequently used treatment for patients with plantar fasciitis and heel pain, with specific myofascial release techniques. The paucity of studies in the literature and the lack of definitive evidence on this topic served as the basis for initiating this research. A total of 114 patients diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, deemed appropriate for ESWT and myofascial release therapy and meeting the inclusion criteria, are planned to participate in the study. These 114 patients will be randomly divided into three groups of 38 each. Before and after treatment, each patient will complete a demographic data form, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), the Foot Function Index (FFI), the Roles and Maudsley pain scores, and the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) hindfoot clinical assessment scales. Participants will be randomly selected from among individuals who applied to Kayseri City Hospital with complaints of plantar fasciitis within the Kayseri province. The three groups will consist of a myofascial release treatment group, an ESWT treatment group, and a control group. The ESWT group will receive 2,000 pulses per session at 2.0 bar intensity, 14 Hz frequency, and a dose of 0.2 mJ/mm². Specific myofascial release techniques will be administered to the myofascial release group once per week for 16 minutes, over a total period of 5 weeks. No treatment will be administered to the control group. An evaluation appointment will be scheduled 5 weeks after baseline data collection using the designated assessment tools. Pre-treatment and post-treatment data for all three groups will be recorded using the SPSS software. After data collection is completed, appropriate statistical analyses will be conducted.

Enrollment: 114 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Being over 18 years old
• Being able to communicate in Turkish
• Being able to read and write
• Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study
• Having been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis

Exclusion criteria

• Obvious major foot trauma
• Pregnancy
• Presence of tumor
• Coagulation disorder
• Presence of open wounds and extreme sensitivity in the foot area
• Having had any surgical operation on the foot and ankle
• Partial amputation of the foot
• Application of one and/or more physical medicine modalities and corticosteroid injections within the last 6 weeks

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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114 participants in 3 patient groups, including a placebo group

ESWT treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients in the ESWT group will receive a total of five sessions of ESWT, once a week for five weeks. The ESWT group will receive 2000 pulses per session at 14 Hz, 2.0 barr intensity, and a dose of 0.2 mJ/mm2. ESWT will be applied primarily to areas near the calcaneal insertion of the plantar fascia.

Treatment:

Device: extracorporeal shockwave therapy

myofascial release treatment group

Experimental group

Description:

Myofascial Release treatment group patients will receive treatments once a week for 5 weeks, for a total of 5 weeks. Treatments will be applied once a week for 5 weeks. The following will be applied for a total of 16 minutes: 2 minutes of constant pressure with the therapist's two thumbs to the center of the central part of the plantar fascia and the calcaneal insertion point; 2 minutes of constant pressure with the therapist's thumb to the lateral and medial parts of the plantar fascia, along the line, progressing anteriorly as the fascial tissue relaxes; 2 minutes of constant pressure with the therapist's thumb to the gastrocnemius muscle at its most swollen or taut point, progressing from caudal to cranial with constant pressure from the caudal to cranial point as the tissue relaxes; 2 minutes of constant pressure with the therapist's fist to the central tendon of the plantar fascia; and 2 minutes of constant pressure with the therapist's fist to the gastrocnemius muscle, from caud

Treatment:

Other: myofascial release technique

control group

Placebo Comparator group

Description:

Control group patients will not receive any treatment. After the data used in the study is collected, an appointment will be scheduled for five weeks later for comparison. Data will be collected and recorded again after five weeks.

Treatment:

Other: Placebo Control