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

Plantar Fascitis Clinical Trial

Official title:

Efficacy of Gastrocnemius Stretching on Plantar Heel Pain, Foot Mobility and Function in Patients With Plantar Fasciitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05920551
• Other study ID #: 012/7080002023
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: July 1, 2023
• Est. completion date: February 1, 2024

Study information

• Verified date: June 2023
• Source: Ahram Canadian University
• Contact: Mohamed M ElMeligie, Ph.d
• Phone: +201064442032
• Email: mohamed.elmeligie[@]acu.edu.eg
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial 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.

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.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 60
• Est. completion date: February 1, 2024
• Est. primary completion date: February 1, 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 30 Years to 50 Years

Eligibility

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)

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Fasciitis
• Fasciitis, Plantar
• Plantar Fascitis

Intervention

Other:
• Gastrocnemius Stretching Exercises
The gastrocnemius stretching exercises will be performed by patients in the study group. These exercises will involve stretching the gastrocnemius muscle in a controlled manner to improve flexibility and reduce tension in the plantar fascia.
• Standard care
Ultrasound therapy: A therapeutic ultrasound device will be used to apply ultrasound waves to the plantar fascia area for pain relief and to promote healing. The frequency, intensity, and duration of the ultrasound therapy will be determined by the treating physical therapist based on individual patient needs.Fascia strengthening exercises: Patients will be instructed to perform exercises targeting the intrinsic foot muscles and the plantar fascia to improve strength and function. Examples of these exercises include toe curls, towel scrunches, and arch lifts. Patients will be asked to perform these exercises daily, with the specific number of repetitions and sets determined by the physical therapist.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Egypt	Outpatient clinic of faculty of physical therapy, Ahram Canadian University	Al ?ayy Ath Thamin	Giza

Sponsors (1)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Ahram Canadian University

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Egypt, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Changes in Plantar heel pain intensity	Measured using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS)	Changes in Plantar heel pain intensity at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months
Secondary	Changes in Foot mobility	Measured using an inversion/eversion device	Changes in foot mobility at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months
Secondary	Changes in Foot function	Measured using the Foot and Ankle Ability Measure (FAAM)	Changes in foot function at Baseline and after 4 weeks of intervention and 3 months