Exercise Versus Corticosteroid Randomized Clinical Trial for Plantar Fasciitis

University of British Columbia

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 3; Phase 2

Conditions: Fasciitis, Plantar

Treatments: Other: Ankle inversion/eversion exercise; Other: Standing one-legged balance exercise:; Other: Tissue-specific plantar fascia self massage; Other: Forefoot extension exercise; Other: Balance walking exercise; Other: Gastrocnemius and soleus stretching; Drug: Dexamethasone; Other: Karaoke Exercise

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01297686

H10-03368

RS2010-IG20 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

Details and patient eligibility

About

Chronic plantar fasciopathy is a painful condition common in the workplace, particularly for those workers required to stand for long periods of time, and is typically associated with point tenderness at heel and arch of the foot. This clinical trial will investigate the effectiveness of an innovative multi-element exercise program versus the standard of care for plantar fasciopathy. The observation period will be 12-weeks. Outcomes are determined through questionnaire and ultrasound imaging. Workers with long-standing plantar fasciopathy who must stand for prolonged periods of time (i.e. > 6 hours) during their workday will be invited to participate in this study. After ensuring eligibility, each subject will be randomly assigned to either the intervention group who will receive a multi-element exercise program, or the control group who will receive a cortisone injection followed by a stretching program for their calf-muscles (standard of care). The treatment length for both groups will be 12-weeks.

Enrollment: 56 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 19 to 60 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Adult workers (men and women) between the ages of 19 and 60
• Workers required to stand for 6 hours or more in their respective workplaces
• Diagnosed with plantar fasciopathy (plantar fasciitis). All diagnoses will be made by a physiotherapist based on the presentation of palpable pain at or around the plantar medial heel, in addition to pain during weight-bearing activities and the presence of morning pain.
• Only individuals with pain for longer than 12 months will be included.

Exclusion criteria

• A history of surgery to their plantar fascia
• Osteoarthritis or other degenerative musculoskeletal disorders affecting the lower extremity
• Individuals who have received corticosteroid injections into their affected plantar fascia at any time in the past will be excluded.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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56 participants in 2 patient groups

Exercise

Experimental group

Description:

Multi-element exercise protocol involving static and dynamic stretches, deep massage, and balance training.

Treatment:

Other: Standing one-legged balance exercise:

Other: Tissue-specific plantar fascia self massage

Other: Karaoke Exercise

Other: Gastrocnemius and soleus stretching

Other: Forefoot extension exercise

Other: Balance walking exercise

Other: Ankle inversion/eversion exercise

Standard of Care

Active Comparator group

Description:

This arm will consist of a single injection of a corticosteroid, followed by stretching exercises for the calf.

Treatment:

Drug: Dexamethasone

Other: Gastrocnemius and soleus stretching