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

Ahram Canadian University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Plantar Fascitis

Treatments: Other: Standard care; Other: Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05920551

012/7080002023

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 60 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 30 to 50 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

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)

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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60 participants in 2 patient groups

Gastrocnemius Stretching Group

Experimental group

Description:

Patients will receive ultrasound therapy, fascia strengthening exercises, and gastrocnemius stretching exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises

Other: Standard care

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Patients will receive ultrasound therapy and fascia strengthening exercises without gastrocnemius stretching exercises.

Treatment:

Other: Standard care